PRO BONO REPORT 2019–2020

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Attorney advertising. ©2020 Blank Rome LLP. All rights reserved. Please contact Blank Rome for permission to reprint. Notice: The purpose of this update is to identify select developments that may be of interest to readers. The informa­tion contained herein is abridged and summarized from various sources, the accuracy and completeness of which cannot be assured. This update should not be construed as legal advice or opinion, and is not a substitute for the advice of counsel. CONTENTS

A Note from Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Committee Chair...... 1 SEEKING JUSTICE FOR ALL Supporting Immigrants in Our Communities...... 2 Blank Rome is proud of our deep tradition of pro bono service, which traces its roots to one of Advocating for LGBTQ+ Equality...... 4 our Firm’s founding partners, Edwin P. Rome.

Preserving Housing and Supporting the Homeless...... 7 For nearly 75 years, Blank Rome’s core values of respect for the individual, the community, and the law have driven and inspired our leadership in pro bono and community activities. Obtaining Military Discharge Upgrades and Benefits for Veterans...... 8 Pro bono service is encouraged and supported across our Firm through training, mentoring, Helping Low-Income Seniors Gain Access to Justice...... 10 and promoting a culture that recognizes the importance of ensuring that everyone has equal access to legal representation. Advancing Small Businesses and Nonprofits through Legal Services...... 12

2019 Pro Bono Year in Review...... 14 Blank Rome has a formal pro bono policy that requires each of our attorneys and paralegals to undertake at least 25 hours of pro bono service every year, with 65 hours encouraged. To Our Pro Bono Partners...... 15 help our attorneys and paralegals achieve this goal, they receive assistance with identifying pro bono opportunities that will be meaningful to them as well as appropriate training and Pro Bono Honors and Awards...... 16 resources to support their endeavors. Pro Bono Honor Roll...... 24

A Look Ahead...... 25

Pro Bono Team...... 28

Seeking Justice for All...... 29

PRO BONO REPORT • 29 • • • • • Pro Bono Team • • • • • A Note from Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Committee Chair PRO BONO LEADERSHIP For nearly 75 years, Blank Rome’s core values of respect for the individual, the community, and the law have continued to inspire our Firm’s deep commitment to pro bono service. Blank Rome proudly promotes pro bono activities through meaningful legal clinics and initiatives, our longstanding­ pro bono partnerships, and our Firm’s formal pro bono policy that requires each of our attorneys and paralegals to provide at least 25 hours of pro bono service every year, with a goal of 65 hours encouraged.

Barry Abrams Kathy E. Ochroch Krystal Kane In 2019, our Firm hosted and staffed more than 50 pro Although there is no simple solution for these complicated bono clinics and served more than 1,000 pro bono clients, issues, our Firm is proud to promote many remote projects PRO BONO COMMITTEES which translates into more than 32,000 hours of pro bono addressing the challenges presented by COVID-19, including service across all our offices. We are proud of this achieve- clinics assisting small businesses, eviction prevention, and FIRM-WIDE: Barry Abrams, Chair • Lawrence J. Beaser • Cheryl S. Chang • Amy Joseph Coles • ment, which earned our Firm a high ranking in The American unemployment benefits. We have also formed pro bono Alan M. Freeman • John E. Heintz • Krystal Kane • Jeremy A. Herschaft • Adam E. Laver • Lawyer’s annual Pro Bono Rankings Survey as one of the top working groups addressing the issues faced by our commu- Kathy E. Ochroch • Paige Barr Tinkham • Nicole R. Topper • Jared Zola • David A. Dorey • 25 firms nationwide for breadth of pro bono performance. nities of color, including discrimination and civil rights cases, Michael J. Feinman ­systemic injustices in the criminal justice system, and more. Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Report highlights various pro bono We are confident that, through collective action, we can work cases, clinics, and projects that our attorneys worked on last together to attack some of the effects of this pandemic and HOUSTON: Domingo M. Llagostera, Chair • Barry Abrams • Jeremy A. Herschaft • Munira Jesani • year, which provided equal access to legal representation move our country toward greater justice and equality. Marquel S. Jordan • Keith B. Letourneau • Zachary J. Wyatte • Susan L. Bickley, Ex-Officio for some of the neediest in our community. In particular, we LOS ANGELES: Dennis M.P. Ehling, Chair • Cheryl S. Chang • Shadi Enos Jahangir • Jessica A. McElroy discuss our significant work on behalf of immigrants, LGBTQ+ I am honored to help lead these important pro bono initia- individuals, persons facing homelessness, veterans, senior tives, alongside Kathy E. Ochroch, Partner and Director of citizens, and small business owners and nonprofits. Pro Bono Services, , Pro Bono Attorney, and our NEW YORK: Inbal Paz Garrity, Co-Chair • Evan Zucker, Co-Chair • Beth Bernstein Connors • Alexandra Clark • Krystal Kane Firm-wide and office Pro Bono Committee members. Blank Thomas A. Cournoyer • Morgan Fraser Mouchette • Noe S. Hamra • Elena P. Jacque • Martin S. Krezalek • The increasing need for pro bono service to address the many Rome is very proud of our attorneys and professional staff, Michael C. Lupton • Ernestine J. Mings • Brett S. Ward • Jared Zola • Michael J. Feinman, Ex-Officio injustices that individuals and families in our community whose pro bono efforts exemplify our Firm’s devotion to experience each day is more important now than ever before. bettering our community and the legal profession. PHILADELPHIA: Carol A. Gershon, Co-Chair • Michael P. Trainor, Co-Chair • Asima J. Ahmad • Samar Aryani-Sabet • During the last seven months, our country has been deeply Dalila J. Berry • Bridget Mayer Briggs • Bradford C. Craig • Molly Crane • Heidi G. Crikelair • impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has fundamen- To learn more about Blank Rome’s pro bono initiatives, please William R. Cruse • Krystal Kane • Adam E. Laver • Joel Michel • Rachel A. Packer • Michelle Piscopo • tally changed the way we work and live. Additionally, current visit blankrome.com/pro-bono. We hope that you enjoy this James J. Quinlan • Jeffrey M. Rosenfeld • Jeffrey N. Rosenthal • Joshua L. Strober events have sparked rightful outrage regarding the racial report and we welcome your feedback. p inequity and injustice faced by Black Americans and people of PITTSBURGH: Edwin L. Edwards Jr., Chair • Jill Lipman Beck • Maria E. Carnicella • Amy Joseph Coles • color every day. Jayme L. Butcher, Ex-Officio Barry Abrams, WASHINGTON: Adrien C. Pickard, Chair • Kyle P. Brinkman • Kierstan L. Carlson • Carolyn Cody-Jones • John E. Heintz • Emma C. Jones • Albert B. Krachman • Tara Laster Marcus • Victoria Ortega • Stefanos N. Roulakis • Alan M. Freeman, Ex-Officio• Ariel S. Glasner, Ex-Officio

WILMINGTON: Tori A. Guilfoyle, Chair • Bryan J. Hall • Adam V. Orlacchio • David A. Dorey, Ex-Officio Partner and Chair of Blank Rome’s Firm-wide Pro Bono Committee The Pro Bono Committees listed above reflect our current committee members. Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Leadership Team thanks the 2019 committees for their dedicated pro bono service.

28 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 1 • • • • • Supporting Immigrants in Our Communities

Blank Rome is proud to provide representation and advocacy for asylum seekers, refugees, and other immigrants, and to have joined in the crucial fight to reunite families who have been separated at our Southern border. In 2019, our Adam Orlacchio Presented with Blank Rome’s 2020 Susan Bickley Named Chair and Houston Office Firm partnered with the Nationalities Service Center to provide adjustment of status clinics for 195 clients, totaling Edwin P. Rome Pro Bono Achievement Award Honored at Houston Bar Foundation’s Annual Meeting more than 180 hours of pro bono service. Blank Rome Partner Adam V. Orlacchio Blank Rome Partner Susan L. Bickley was presented with our Firm’s 2020 was inducted as chair of the Houston Edwin P. Rome Pro Bono Achievement Bar Foundation and our Firm’s Houston Philadelphia Office Continues Partnership with #TakeActionPhilly to Offer Adjustment of Status Clinics Award in recognition of his personal office was honored for its “Outstanding commitment to, and leadership in, Mid-Size Firm Contribution to Blank Rome was proud to partner with the Nationalities Philadelphia, and a number of prominent nonprofit legal aid performing pro bono litigation on Houston Volunteers Lawyers” at the Service Center and the City of Philadelphia Office of organizations with the goal of uniting lawyers, government, behalf of indigent tenants in numerous Foundation’s 2020 Annual Meeting. Immigrant Affairs’ Language Access Program to host community organizations, and residents to protect and assist Adam V. Orlacchio ­landlord-tenant cases in Philadelphia Susan L. Bickley Susan has been a member of the numerous clinics that assisted refugees in adjusting their Philadelphia’s most vulnerable residents, focusing first on and Wilmington for the past decade. Adam’s leadership Foundation’s board of directors since 2018 and received its status to legal permanent residency (Green Card holders). refugee and immigration policy. in this area is especially important at this time, as tenants President’s Award in 2010 and 2011. In her role as board This is a major milestone in many clients’ immigration all across the country face an onslaught of these sorts of chair, Susan will lead the Foundation’s mission of supporting processes to the United States, granting them a greater sense ­landlord-tenant cases due to the financial devastation of programs that help provide legal representation to the of permanency and an important step toward citizenship. the COVID-19 pandemic. Adam is also co-chairing our Firm’s indigent, promote community understanding of the legal newly formed Housing/Eviction Protection Pro Bono Working system, and foster the administration of justice. These clinics were part of the city’s #TakeActionPhilly Group to address the impact of racism in our society. ­initiative. In November 2017, Blank Rome was recognized by the City of Philadelphia for its essential role in the formation of Take Action Philly, an initiative that was launched in February 2017 by the Philadelphia Bar Association, City of Kathy Ochroch Honored as Champion of Justice by Blank Rome Presents 2020 Comisky Cup to Firm’s SeniorLAW Center Princeton Office

Blank Rome Partner and Director of Pro Bono Services Kathy Blank Rome’s 2020 Comisky Cup was presented to our Firm’s E. Ochroch has been named one of the SeniorLAW Center’s Princeton office, which led our Firm’s pro bono activity with 2020 Champions of Justice. The notable recognition honors an average of 107 pro bono hours per attorney last year. individuals for their excellence in “pursuing­ justice for older Our Firm’s Princeton office, which in 2018 was named The and vulnerable people.”­ Under Kathy’s leadership, Blank American Lawyer’s Regional Litigation Department of the Rome has been proud to partner with the SeniorLAW Center Year and Law360’s New Jersey Powerhouse, maintained its for many years on numerous, ongoing pro bono clinics and strong commitment to pro bono last year through impactful projects. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of women’s work on significant pro bono civil rights cases. p right to vote, the SeniorLaw Center, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit serving senior citizens throughout Pennsylvania, selected six deserving women advocates Nationalities Service Center clients at Blank Rome’s as Champions of Justice. #TakeActionPhilly Adjustment of Status Legal Clinic. “ You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

I H D N A G A TM MAHA

2 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 27 Blank Rome Hosts Private Film Screenings of Just Mercy Blank Rome was proud to host a series of private film understanding the systems of inequality and injustice in our “ screenings of Just Mercy, which tells the true story of young country, and paving the way toward justice and healing. As defense attorney Bryan Stevenson and his fight for the life of part of Blank Rome’s ongoing commitment to Pro Bono and We must do the Walter McMillian after he was sentenced to death for murder Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, our Firm was honored to work that justice despite evidence proving his innocence. The exclusive events share such a special experience with our clients and friends and equality Mike Joseph Leads Blank Rome’s Efforts in were held in Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; and Houston at and to engage in a meaningful dialogue on a topic about Assisting Foreign Nationals Seeking Asylum the end of January 2020. which we all care deeply. Our Firm was also honored to calls us to do. in the United States dedicate the screenings in memory of the inspiring life and IS W This inspirational film starring Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, legacy of our late colleague Judge Nathaniel R. Jones, who LE In recent years, the asylum system N OH and Brie Larson sparks important conversations around was one of the brightest legal minds and civil rights advocates REP. J has become overwhelmed and its shifting the narrative on race in America, reexamining and of our time. governing statutes subject to more con- servative interpretation, with applicants waiting six years or more for their initial Blank Rome Participates in Federal Tort Claim interview and decision. Blank Rome Act Project Senior Counsel Michael Joseph, who Michael Joseph has led our Firm’s initiative on these Asylum-seeking families who were separated at the U.S. kinds of cases since his retirement in 2011, focuses most of border are able to file FTCA (Federal Tort Claim Act) cases to his efforts on assisting foreign nationals seeking asylum in the recover damages for the trauma they suffered during the sep- United States. arations. The procedure for an FTCA claim involves two steps: the first step is filing an administrative claim with the U.S. gov- Through this work, Blank Rome was able to help an Eritrean ernment (within two years of the wrongdoing or negligence), refugee and his wife obtain an interview in late 2019 and a the second is a lawsuit in federal court. favorable decision in April 2020. Our client had been perse- cuted by Eritrean security agents who falsely accused him of In 2019, Blank Rome participated in a special, limited pro spying on behalf of the CIA. bono project that focused on the first step (i.e., the filing of the administrative FTCA claim). The goal of the project is to Under Mike’s guidance in this area, more than two dozen assist separated families in preserving their claims, before attorneys from across our Firm also often represent success- the two-year statute of limitations expires. Through this ful asylum seekers by continuing to assist them in obtaining project, Blank Rome volunteers were able to communicate Green Cards and eventually becoming U.S. citizens. A recent with clients to explain the legal procedure to them and obtain example involved a Pakistani woman whose 2014 asylum basic biographical information from them. The volunteer grant was based on her long-term abusive treatment as a then prepared a complaint and filed it in the administrative servant of her husband’s family following her husband’s proceeding, ensuring the client would not be barred by the desertion. She and her three daughters now enjoy the Blank Rome’s attorneys and guests at the Firm’s Just Mercy viewings in January. statute of limitations. The cases are very moving, with many ­ultimate protection of U.S. citizenship. p involving very young children who were separated from their asylum-seeking parents when they crossed through official ports of entry on the southern border of the United States.

26 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 3 • • • • • • • • • • Advocating for LGBTQ+ Equality A Look Ahead

Blank Rome is proud to participate in numerous pro bono legal projects that support the LGBTQ+ community. Blank Rome is proud of the pro bono recognitions and activities our Firm and attorneys have accomplished so far this Notably, in 2019, our Firm continued to partner with Bet Tzedek Legal Services and the Transgender Legal Defense year, which we will highlight in greater detail in our next Pro Bono Report. The summary below offers a quick overview and Education Fund on multiple name and gender marker change projects, totaling more than 650 hours of pro bono of our pro bono program from the first half of 2020 and our priorities moving forward. service for nearly 60 clients.

Blank Rome Attorneys Assist Transgender Clients with Name and Gender Marker Changes Addressing the Pandemic and Racism in Our Society

Blank Rome continued the important work of helping the pro bono legal aid arm of the Houston Bar Association. The need for pro bono service to address the many injustices that individuals and families in our community transgender and gender-variant individuals update their In Philadelphia, New York City, and Pittsburgh, Blank Rome’s experience each day is more important now than ever before. During the last seven months, our country has identification documents to reflect their correct name and attorneys have volunteered to staff numerous Name and been deeply impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, which has fundamentally­ changed the way we work and live. gender identity. There is an enormous, unmet need for these Gender Marker Change Clinics through the Transgender Legal Additionally, current events have sparked rightful outrage regarding the racial inequity and injustice faced by Black services. For many in the transgender community, securing Defense and Education Fund (“TLDEF”), a nonprofit whose Americans and people of color every day. a legal name change is a critical step to ensure their legal mission is to end discrimination and achieve equality for identities match their lived experience. A lack of appropriate transgender people,­ particularly those in our most vulnerable Although there is no simple solution for these complicated issues, our Firm is proud to promote many remote identity documents can deter people from applying for jobs, communities. projects addressing challenges presented by COVID-19, including clinics assisting small businesses, eviction school, and public benefits, and can lead to discrimination prevention, and unemployment benefits. We have also formed pro bono working groups addressing issues faced by and harassment. This work is straightforward for the attorney, In addition to the pro bono legal clinics, Blank Rome attor- our communities of color, including discrimination and civil rights cases, systemic­ injustices in the criminal justice but has a truly life-changing impact on the client. neys have handled individual name change cases through system, and more. We are confident that, through collective action, we can work together to attack some of the the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Greater New York effects of this pandemic and move our country toward greater justice and equality. In Los Angeles, our attorneys volunteered to staff numer- (“LeGaL”) and TLDEF. We began our partnerships with LeGaL ous Name and Gender Marker Change Clinics through Bet and TLDEF to provide assistance on these cases in 2016. Tzedek Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm that provides free, Since then, our attorneys have handled more than 25 of comprehensive legal services to low-income Los Angeles res- these cases in our New York office and many more in our idents. In Houston, our attorneys held that office’s first Name Philadelphia office. Blank Rome Joins Newly Launched Law Firm Antiracism Alliance Change Clinic in partnership with Houston Volunteer Lawyers, Blank Rome is proud to announce that our Firm has joined the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (“LFAA”), a coalition of more than 250 firms to date that will work with other organizations that are uniting to identify and dismantle systemic racism in the law and in government institutions. Notably, the LFAA will facilitate large-scale pro bono projects that address systemic ­racism that are both immediate­ and long-term in scope, with priority areas determined by affected communities, community organizers, policy experts, and legal aid partners.

In joining the LFAA and upholding its Charter, Blank Rome and ­fellow participating firms “commit to leverage the resources of the private bar to amplify the voices of communities and individuals oppressed by racism; better use the law as a vehicle for change to benefit communities of color; and to promote racial equity in the law and in government institutions.” Additionally, law firms “acknowledge their ongoing responsibility to increase diversity, equitable access to opportunities and inclusion of people of color within their ranks, Blank Rome’s attorneys, with TLDEF and in-house counsel from PECO/Exelon, host a transgender name change legal clinic at the William Way LGBT Community Center. and, in tandem with the LFAA’s pro bono efforts, the leaders of LFAA law firms are committed to exam- ining and eliminating­ internal policies and practices that may perpetuate racial inequities within law firm structures and to empowering diversity and inclusion professionals through this process.”

4 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 25 • • • • • Blank Rome Pro Bono Honor Roll

Blank Rome’s attorneys and paralegals recognized below completed 65 hours or more of pro bono service in 2019. Jeremy Herschaft Obtains Trailblazing Birth Certificate Change for Houston Name and Gender Marker Change Client

Barry Abrams John P. Curp James D. Kelly David M. Perry Blank Rome Partner Jeremy A. Herschaft obtained an Rick Antonoff Michael R. Darbee Leena Ketkar Alexander S. Perry outstanding result on behalf of one of our Houston office’s name and gender marker change cases. The client had pre- Roy W. Arnold Brendan D. Delany John D. Kimball Stacy D. Phillips viously given birth to a son, and thereafter decided to have Samar Aryani-Sabet Edwin L. Edwards Casey L. Klein Adrien C. Pickard a gender reassignment procedure from female to male. Do your little bit of Michael J. Barry Dennis M.P. Ehling Jeremy N. Kolman Adam Proujansky During his representation, Jeremy assisted the client with Morgan Barry Jonathan W.S. England Albert B. Krachman William L. Purtell obtaining an order to legally change the client’s name and good where you are; Lawrence J. Beaser Michael R. Esposito Martin S. Krezalek James J. Quinlan Jeremy A. Herschaft gender assignment (from female to male) so that this could it’s those little bits Samuel H. Becker Michael J. Feinman Adam E. Laver Sandra Quinn be reflected on critical documents (i.e., official records, driver’s license, etc.). The of good put together Gregory S. Bergman Richard A. Fineman Evan H. Lechtman Lamiya N. Rahman primary application to the court for a name and gender marker change was not Alexander H. Berman Blake Fink Mark M. Lee Jason E. Reisman unusual. However, in this very unique instance, Jeremy added additional language that overwhelm the Joan M. Bondareff Andrew K. Fletcher Lois J. Liberman Jeffrey Rosenfeld in the court’s order that instructed the Texas birth certificate department to world. further change the client’s name and gender identity on the son’s birth certificate U T Liza J. Brackman Ronald W. Frank Sydney Lim Stefanos N. Roulakis U from “mother” to “parent.” The court granted the request to include the addi- T ND Bridget M. Briggs Tjasse L. Fritz Domingo M. Llagostera Shareen Sarwar MO tional language. This secondary request is highly unusual, and is one of the few of DES Joshua L. Broderson Blair A. Gerold Jonathan A. Loeb Erika R. Schulz its kind completed in Texas. Thomas M. Brodowski Michelle M. Gervais Michael C. Lupton Douglas J. Shoemaker Robyn N. Burrows Megann E. Gibson Tara L. Marcus Michael D. Silberfarb Melanie S. Carter James T. Giles Riki Mandell McGettigan Julianna M. Simon Henry C. Cashen Ariel S. Glasner Luke W. Meier Megan E. Spitz Ashley N. Catalano-Leckerman Michael C. Greenbaum Paul M. Messina Thomas J. Szymanski Blank Rome Earns Perfect Score in 2019 Corporate Equality Index Grace C. Chamoun Jon Grossman Dominique A. Meyer Frank L. Tamulonis Caroline S. Choi Ricky M. Guerra Robyn L. Michaelson Jane Thomas Blank Rome received a perfect score of 100 percent on the 2019 Corporate Equality Index (“CEI”), a national benchmarking Stephanie C. Chomentowski Victoria A. Guilfoyle Joel Michel Peter I. Tsoflias survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality administered by the Human Rights Thomas P. Cialino Bryan J. Hall Anthony A. Mingione Santiago Vallejo Campaign Foundation (“HRC”). With this score, Blank Rome has been designated for the fourth year in a row as a “Best Place to Michael K. Clare Andrew T. Hambelton Ernestine J. Mings Samuel M. Ventresca Work for LGBTQ+ Equality” by the HRC, and joins the ranks of major U.S. businesses that earned top marks this year. Alexandra Clark John E. Heintz Dustin Z. Moaven Mary T. Vidas The 2019 CEI rated 1,028 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBTQ+ policies Melvin A. Cobb Jr. Terry M. Henry James R. Murray Robert Wessely and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner Amy J. Coles Jeremy A. Herschaft Jaleh Najafali Stephen T. Whelan benefits, transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits, competency programs, and public Erin L. Coppock Stephanie E. Holden Andrew A. Napier Christopher C. Wilcoxson engagement with the LGBTQ+ community. Blank Rome’s efforts in satisfying all of the Bradford C. Craig Brooke T. Iley Jaime L. Nucifora Lauren B. Wilgus CEI’s criteria resulted in a 100-percent ranking and the designation as a “Best Place to Heidi G. Crikelair David M. Jacobson Kathy E. Ochroch Sarah A. Wilson Work for LGBTQ Equality.” Ioana Cristei Elena P. Jacque James R. O’Neill Shawn M. Wright Ryan E. Cronin Shadi E. Jahangir Stephen M. Orlofsky Zachary J. Wyatte The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve Gregory P. Cronin Emma C. Jones Victoria Ortega Huaou Yan equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as Michaela L. Cronin Michael Joseph Rachel A. Packer Naomi A. Zwillenberg full members of society at home, at work, and in every community. p Francis X. Crowley Peter H. Jost Ameya V. Paradkar Joseph E. Culleiton Regina S. Kelbon Brian S. Paszamant

24 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 5 D.C. Attorneys Volunteer at Medicare Part D Clinic

Blank Rome was proud to partner with Exelon and the Medicare Part D website can make the analysis confusing Whitman-Walker Health to provide a Medicare Part D Clinic and complicated, the Medicare Part D Clinic was particularly at Whitman-Walker’s new location at the LIZ building in timely and significant for clients. During the clinic, volunteer Washington, D.C. The half-day clinic served 21 clients of attorneys offered dedicated time and legal assistance to Whitman-Walker, a D.C.-based health center for the LGBTQ+ review plan options and ensure that clients chose the best community and those living with HIV/AIDS. plan for their prescription needs in the upcoming year.

Medicare Part D is the part of Medicare that provides pre- Blank Rome Partners Saminaz Akhter and Brett S. Snyder scription drug coverage. Those enrolled in Medicare must also did an outstanding job organizing and spearheading this enroll in a separate Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to effort. They were joined by an enthusiastic team of have prescription drug coverage. Because the new changes to volunteers from Blank Rome and Exelon.

Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Award and Pro Bono Hero Award winners from our Houston office.

Houston Office Marquel S. Jordan and Robert P. Scott were recognized for their work on several pro bono cases in different fields, however one of their recent immigration cases truly highlights their dedication and commitment to pro bono. For several years, Marquel and Bob have been representing a minor from Honduras, who has been going through the process of attaining I measure Special Immigrant Juvenile status. The client, abandoned at three years old, and who has experienced many unthinkable hardships, fled to the success in terms of United States at a young age to live with her aunt. Marquel and Bob, in the contributions an concert with Kids in Need of Defense, have been working to help their client attain asylum status for some time. Due to several complications in the individual makes to immigration process, this case has presented several challenges, all of which her fellow human Marquel and Bob have accepted and fought. beings. D A E Candace Childress was also recognized for her remarkable commitment M ET to pro bono at Blank Rome. Candace spearheads several group volunteer AR RG opportunities for our Firm and ensures that there are always enough volun- MA Blank Rome volunteers, together with in-house counsel from Exelon and staff from Whitman-Walker, at the Medicare Part D Clinic in Washington, D.C. teers to fulfill Blank Rome’s commitment with Houston Volunteer Lawyers. She has been a critical part of our Houston office’s maintenance of the “Equal Access to Justice” champion title. p

6 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 23 • • • • • BLANK ROME PRESENTS PRO BONO HEROES AWARDS (CONTINUED) Preserving Housing and Supporting the Homeless Los Angeles Office Blank Rome is committed to providing legal and advocacy services aimed at preventing homelessness for individuals and families in our communities. In 2019, our Firm spent more than 70 hours partnering with organizations like Dennis M.P. Ehling was honored for his work on our Los Angeles Pro Bono Coordinating Project HOME and the Homeless Advocacy Project to provide clients with free legal services and connect them with Committee and on several pro bono matters. This includes an asylum case that has been other crucial social services. ongoing for several years in which he represents a client and her two children who fled to the United States to escape abuse. In collaboration with the Bet Tzedek Name and Gender Marker Change Project, Dennis has worked in support­ of several clients and D.C. Attorneys Obtain Dismissal of Eviction Action in Subsidized Housing Case advocated for the endeavors of the organization. emotionally from the trauma of his childhood abuse, and had Dennis M.P. Ehling difficulty controlling his anger when confronted with contro- versy. He tried many times, but always failed to hold a job. Harrison M. Brown and Dustin Z. Moaven were recognized for their excellent work on a recent asylum matter. Their client fled Russia to escape persecution for his role With help from the D.C. Housing Authority and charitable in political protests that were opposing the current government. At age 19, their organizations, the pro bono client was finally settled into an client began his involvement in these organizations,­ however, he soon started to apartment. His condition, however, resulted in periodic erratic Albert B. Krachman Frederick M. Lowther Robyn N. Burrows receive threatening letters and was attacked. He was unable to report any of these behavior and the landlord sued to evict him. The Blank Rome advances due to a lack of trust he had in his local federal authorities. At the “March Blank Rome Partners Albert B. Krachman and Frederick pro bono team interposed a defense in the eviction case and of Millions” protest in Russia, their client was incarcerated while suffering from a M. Lowther and Associate Robyn N. Burrows successfully obtained a dismissal of the action, saving the client’s housing Harrison M. Brown Dustin Z. Moaven broken arm, which was a result of violence that broke out during the march. During represented a pro bono client in an eviction proceeding in a subsidy. Working with the client and an organization devoted another protest, his leg broke after he was beaten by the police. After being drafted subsidized housing case. If a tenant with subsidized housing to housing the homeless (Miriam’s Kitchen), the Blank Rome into the Russian military, their client fled to the United States seeking asylum. is evicted, they lose their right to a subsidy and often end up team was then able to relocate the client to another subsi- Harrison and Dustin have since been working ceaselessly on their client’s case. without any public housing. The client was an abused child dized housing apartment, and he now has a fresh start in a who left home at a very young age, and lived on the streets of new home. Washington, D.C., for over 25 years. He suffered mentally and

Blank Rome Continues Longstanding Partnership Blank Rome Staffs Birth Certificate Clinics with Legal Aid’s Housing Right to Counsel Project for the Homeless

Blank Rome is proud to have partnered with the Legal Aid Blank Rome partnered with Legal Aid of Southeastern PA Society of D.C.’s Housing Right to Counsel Project since its and the Homeless Advocacy Project to host community inception in 2015, when Partner John E. Heintz, who was birth certificate clinics. At these clinics, volunteers met with named Legal Aid’s 2020 Servant of Justice Award recipient, homeless individuals in need of government ID and con- was instrumental in getting our Firm involved in the pilot ducted very brief background interviews to fill out a short project for these cases. This project aims to dramatically form with the information needed to request a birth certif- expand access to counsel for tenants in subsidized housing icate. In December 2019, Pennsylvania officially announced who are facing eviction. Legal counsel is particularly import- that it is waiving birth certificate fees for the homeless. The ant in these cases, where eviction also can result in the loss fee is normally $20, and birth certificates are required for of an invaluable housing subsidy, too often leading to a spiral identification for access to benefits and other assistance. The into homelessness and hopelessness. Blank Rome has spent Homeless Advocacy Project attributed this significant change hundreds of hours on these cases, and has had at least 10 to Blank Rome’s efforts, which were leveraged to obtain a different attorneys and paralegals handling these matters. legislative fix to the problem of access to birth certificates for the homeless. p

22 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 7 • • • • • Obtaining Military Discharge Upgrades and Benefits for Veterans

Blank Rome is proud to support our nation’s veterans and their families through our pro bono program. Our Firm conducts regular military discharge upgrade legal clinics across the country, helping individuals fight against the injustice of their other-than-honorable discharges and obtain the military benefits they deserve. We also provide important legal advice free of charge to our nation’s veterans and their loved ones. In 2019, our Firm continued to partner with The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program and Houston Volunteer Lawyers to provide more than 65 hours of pro bono service to veterans.

Blank Rome Hosts Military Discharge Upgrade Clinic in Wilmington and Pittsburgh

Blank Rome partnered with The Veterans Consortium to host military discharge upgrade clinics in Wilmington and Pittsburgh. During the clinics, attorney teams met with interested veterans and, using Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Award and Pro Bono Hero Award winners from our New York office. reference materials provided by The Veterans Consortium, evaluated whether a veteran is eligible for an upgrade from an other-than-honorable discharge. Receiving a discharge upgrade can significantly impact the client’s ability to access critically needed veterans benefits, including access to housing and New York Office healthcare. To allow a qualifying veteran to change his/her discharge status is something that could Alexandra Clark was honored for her work on behalf of arrears and adjust his child support payments accordingly. have a life-changing impact for the client. In Wilmington, our Blank Rome volunteers were joined by immigrants through Kids in Need of Defense and the Human They have also done work for a client who struggled with in-house counsel from PEPCO/Exelon. In Pittsburgh, our volunteers partnered with in-house counsel Trafficking Legal Center. Alexandra represented a husband addiction and needed aid with matters of equitable distribu- from PNC Bank on this important work. and wife who moved to the United States for visas and work tion, spousal maintenance, and child custody. For this client, opportunities. The couple did move to the United States, and just as they have done for many others, they worked tirelessly they were forced to work without pay for eight months. They to ensure that they received the support and advocacy they had paid the trafficker over $85,000 for Green Cards, which deserved. they never received. The couple eventually were awarded T-visas, which are special visas for victims of human traffick- Evan Jason Zucker was recognized for his commitment ing. Alexandra, in collaboration with Lauren B. Wilgus and to pro bono work. He serves as the co-chair for our New Anthony A. Mingione, filed a complaint in the Eastern District York Pro Bono Coordinating Committee and is a true pro of New York. The matter is ongoing. bono leader within our Firm. Along with Dalila J. Berry of Philadelphia, Evan helped establish “Finance, Restructuring, Sydney Lim and Ernestine J. Mings were recognized for their and Bankruptcy Pro Bono Month,” a Firm-wide initiative excellent work in family law matters. As matrimonial lawyers, that strongly encouraged our Finance, Restructuring, they were able to aid one of their clients who was a New York and Bankruptcy practice group members to take on a City bus driver who had been badly injured in an accident and pro bono matter or attend a clinic in May 2019. Evan has was unable to work. Their client had been dutifully fulfilling done substantial work with the City Bar Justice Center, the his support obligation for his son, but due to the accident and Neighborhood Entrepreneur Project small business legal his resulting inability to work, became unable to pay. Sydney clinics, and the non-partisan Election Protection program for and Ernestine advocated for their client to help reduce his the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Blank Rome and PECO/Exelon volunteers at a Military Discharge Upgrade Clinic in Wilmington, Delaware.

8 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 21 BLANK ROME PRESENTS PRO BONO HEROES AWARDS (CONTINUED)

Washington, D.C., Office Jon Grossman was honored for his work with several non- while unlicensed and because of their unlawful request profit organizations on intellectual property matters. One of payment in advance. Ross fought tirelessly for his client Houston Office Partners with Houston Volunteer Blank Rome Volunteers for the National Veterans such organization was Conservation International, a global over the span of seven months, and helped him receive a Lawyers to Offer Clinics for Veterans Legal Services Program’s Lawyers Serving Warriors nonprofit focused on conservation, preservation of nature, settlement in the amount of $55,000, which he was able to Project climate stability, and other related issues. Jon has also done a use to repair his home. Led by Blank Rome Partner Jeremy A. Herschaft, volunteer great deal of work with the News Literacy Project, an organi- attorneys from our Houston office participate in the Houston Blank Rome was proud to participate in Lawyers Serving zation that works to improve the news and media literacy of Alex E. Hassid and Alexander H. Berman, both litigators, Volunteer Lawyers’ weekly legal advice clinics held every Warriors, a pro bono project of the National Veterans Legal young people as they navigate the world in the digital age. were honored for their pro bono work outside of their usual Friday for veterans and spouses of deceased veterans. At Services Program that offers pro bono legal help with disabil- Jon’s work with these organizations highlights his commit- area of focus. In conjunction with the Public Interest Law these walk-in legal advice clinics, which are open to anyone ity issues to veterans from all eras. A new Lawyers Serving ment to his local, national, and global communities through Center of Philadelphia, the ARC of Pennsylvania, Disability needing legal advice, applicants meet with a licensed Texas Warriors partner in 2019, Blank Rome volunteers accepted pro bono work. Furthermore, he recently led a clinic that Rights Pennsylvania, and Vision for Equality Inc., Alex and attorney one-on-one and receive free legal advice on their four medical retirement cases, including one ligation case focused on intellectual property matters for small businesses Alexander worked on an amicus brief that advocated for the legal issue. at the Court of Appeals for Federal Claims. For these mat- in Washington, D.C., which aided several local businesses in rights of individuals with disabilities. The aforementioned ters, volunteers assist veterans with physical and/or mental dealing with their IP issues. organizations were advocating on behalf of a client who was disabilities incurred in service to obtain a military disability diagnosed with an intellectual disability retirement, which confers disability benefits and access to as a child. Later in life, their client was Veterans Administration healthcare. Blank Rome volunteers convicted of first-degree murder and also accepted four Military Sexual Trauma cases and one given a sentence of life without parole. No one is case before the Board of Veteran Appeals. For these matters, This conviction was based on a con- useless in this volunteers assist veterans who have developed mental health fession given to police after a lengthy world who lightens issues arising from sexual trauma/abuse while serving in the questioning process by a detective who military. These clients are seeking monthly disability benefits was then removed from the force due the burdens of through the Veterans Administration. to charges of abuse and misconduct. another. Alex and Alexander aided disability rights organizations in advocating for NS CKE their client. They argued that due to CHARLES DI the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Award and Pro Bono Hero Award winners from our Washington, D.C., office. and unusual punishment, as well as the precedent set in Miller v. Alabama, Ross E. Coe was honored for his work on an elder contractor the sentence of life without parole in the case of their client Keith Letourneau and Zach Wyatte Represent Mariners in Suspension and Revocation Proceedings fraud matter. In collaboration with Alan M. Freeman, ought to be vacated. Their client’s sentence was lifted, and Ross represented an elderly client who was the victim of his confession was invalidated based on evidence of police Blank Rome Partner Keith B. Letourneau and Associate Zachary J. Wyatte serve contractor fraud. After paying a contracting company for a misconduct and abuse of a witness. on the U.S. Coast Guard Administrative Law Judge’s panel of pro bono counsel for great deal of repair work on his home, the client was faced merchant mariner suspension and revocation proceedings, which are typically with irreparable damage to his house. The company in instituted by the Coast Guard against a mariner who has committed misconduct question was so ill-prepared to carry out the renovations that (e.g., drug use), or engaged in the negligent operation of a vessel. Together, in the home became essentially uninhabitable after their work “ 2019, the attorneys have assisted a number of merchant mariners against whom was completed. Furthermore, the company had violated the Injustice the Coast Guard initiated such proceedings, including a mariner who tested posi- Keith B. Letourneau Zachary J. Wyatte D.C. Consumer Protection Act by conducting the construction anywhere is a tive for opiate metabolites after ingesting CBD, and another mariner with respect to an alleged positive drug test for amphetamines. In these cases, the attorneys threat to justice were able to negotiate a resolution that enabled each mariner to keep his respec- . R J tive license after challenging the validity of the Coast Guard’s claims by employing everywhere. , G IN an expert toxicologist to evaluate the test results and processes. p K R HE UT M ARTIN L

20 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 9 • • • • • BLANK ROME PRESENTS PRO BONO HEROES AWARDS Helping Low-Income Seniors Gain Access to Justice Pittsburgh Office Blank Rome makes it a priority to provide free legal and advocacy services to the members of our community who Joe E. Culleiton, Shawna J. Henry, David M. Jacobson, are often most in need: senior citizens. Notably, our attorneys regularly help low-income seniors prepare and execute and Alexandra M. Popovnak were recognized for their advance planning documents, such as wills, living wills, and powers of attorney. In 2019, our Firm partnered with work on behalf of a pro bono client in a section 1983 civil the SeniorLAW Center to provide 13 legal clinics, offering these services to nearly 200 senior citizens and completing rights case for a wrongful murder conviction. Our client approximately 775 life planning documents. was exonerated after spending 11 years imprisoned for a ­murder she did not commit. After the Pennsylvania Innocence Project was successful in having our client’s conviction vacated, they asked our team to take on our Blank Rome Continues Life Planning Pro Bono Legal Partnership with the SeniorLAW Center ­client’s civil rights case. The Blank Rome pro bono team has since then successfully filed suit for malicious pros- ecution, due process violations, and supervisory ­liability Since 2010, Blank Rome has partnered with the SeniorLAW Blank Rome and our attorneys have received significant Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Award and Pro Bono Hero Award winners from our Center to help low-income seniors prepare and execute recognition for the pro bono work done with the SeniorLAW against eight defendants. Pittsburgh office. advance planning documents—wills, living wills, and powers­ Center. In 2018, Blank Rome was recognized as an Access of attorney—at monthly senior center legal clinics in to Justice Champion at the inaugural SeniorLAW Center Philadelphia/Princeton/Wilmington Offices Philadelphia. Our Firm is deeply committed to the SeniorLAW and AARP Pennsylvania Pro Bono Awards. In 2017, Blank Center and is proud of the pro bono work done through the Rome Partner Lawrence J. Beaser was honored with the Lauren E. O’Donnell, Leigh Ann Buziak, and Melissa Fundora Mary Anne Kowalczyk, Alvin Martin, Sandie Quinn, and partnership and in collaboration with corporate partners, such SeniorLAW Center’s prestigious Champion of the Year award Murphy were recognized for their excellent work on a juve- Erica Torriero were honored for their ongoing work at our as Comcast, Vanguard, PECO/Exelon, and PNC Bank. Since its in recognition of his support and advocacy for justice and the nile “lifer” resentencing matter. Their client was only 16 years SeniorLAW Center clinics serving as notaries and witnesses, as inception, Blank Rome and the SeniorLAW Center have helped rights of seniors, and the significant impact he has made in old when he was sentenced to life in prison, without the pos- well as their outstanding contributions to our pro bono clients more than 1,500 low-income seniors with these important improving and enriching the lives of others. In 2015, our Firm sibility of parole, for his role in a murder that occurred during and the pro bono program. This group is always willing to do a botched robbery of a neighborhood store. In 2016, when whatever is needed to support our clients, and treats clients documents. In 2019, Blank Rome partnered with SeniorLAW was honored at the First Judicial District Pro Bono Awards in the team became involved, their client had already been in with kindness, sensitivity, and compassion. Furthermore, Alvin Center and paralegal students in Delaware County Community recognition of its pro bono representation of an 88-year-old prison for 23 years. After gathering character evidence and has become our in-house birth certificate specialist, handling College’s Paralegal Associates program to provide life planning World War II veteran, Ray White, in a SeniorLAW Center case working with the new district attorney, the team was able to all of the birth certificate requests for our Homeless Advocacy services to low-income seniors in the Delaware County area. that had been ongoing for more than two years, spanning present character evidence at a rehearing from many of their Project clients; Erica has volunteered several times to help us This was the first community clinic in Delaware County. both criminal and civil actions. client’s family members and friends, including the client’s run our biggest pro bono clinics, doing whatever is needed to daughter who spoke to her father’s positive influence on her keep everything running smoothly; Mary Anne regularly vol- life. Based on all of the evidence, the court agreed to allow unteers to help refugees through Nationalities Service Center, resentencing and their client became eligible for parole, and has worked on several U-Visa cases for immigrant clients; which gives him hope and something to strive for. and Sandie often lends her expertise to help with pro bono probate matters through Philadelphia VIP.

Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Award and Pro Bono Hero Award winners from our Philadelphia, Attorneys from Blank Rome and in-house counsel from Comcast at a SeniorLAW Center clinic held in our Firm’s Philadelphia office in November 2019. Princeton, and Wilmington offices.

10 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 19 BLANK ROME PRO BONO AWARDS Throughout the summer of 2019, Blank Rome presented its annual Pro Bono Awards to our Firm’s attorneys for their outstanding pro bono work completed the year prior.

Blank Rome’s Los Angeles office honored with Public Counsel’s Annual Pro Bono Award. Blank Rome Presents 2019 Edwin P. Rome Pro Bono Achievement Award to John E. Heintz

Blank Rome Partner John E. Heintz was presented with our Firm’s 2019 Edwin P. Rome Pro Bono Achievement Award in recognition of his lifelong commitment to pro bono service and his many achievements on behalf of his pro bono clients. Named in honor of one of Blank Rome’s founding partners, the Edwin P. Rome Pro Bono Achievement Award was created in 2004 to recognize outstanding performance and a demonstrated commit- ment to pro bono legal service each year.

John E. Heintz John serves as a member of Blank Rome’s Firm-wide Pro Bono Committee and our Washington, D.C., Pro Bono Coordinating Committee. He has also served on the board of directors of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs as well as the Legal Aid Society of D.C. Throughout his career, John has handled large, impactful pro bono litigation involving issues of discrimination and unfair practices in both housing and insurance industries. In recent years, he has been a champion of Blank Rome’s ­housing Right to Counsel pro bono project with the Legal Aid Society, where our attorneys represent tenants in sub­sidized housing who are facing eviction and the loss of housing subsidies, preventing them from becoming homeless. “ The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service

of others. I H D N A G Blank Rome Presents 2019 Comisky Cup to Pittsburgh Office MA M AHAT

Blank Rome’s 2019 Comisky Cup was presented to our Firm’s Pittsburgh office, which had 100 percent partici- pation in pro bono the year prior, with an average of 81 Los Angeles Attorneys Honored with Public Counsel Pro Bono Award hours of pro bono work completed per attorney.­ Named In December 2019, Blank Rome’s Los Angeles office was services to low-income individuals and families throughout in honor of Marvin Comisky, Blank Rome’s first manag- honored with Public Counsel’s Annual Pro Bono Award for Los Angeles. Public Counsel’s activities are far-ranging and ing partner, the Comisky Cup is awarded annually to the office(s) with the highest pro bono performance at our their life-changing work representing low-income senior impact a wide spectrum of people who live at or below the Firm. The Pittsburgh office handled a variety of import- citizens facing imminent foreclosure due to improper poverty level. Volunteer attorneys have the opportunity ant, compelling pro bono matters in 2018. Many of our property tax assessments. Public Counsel is the largest to work on a variety of different projects—large and small, Pittsburgh attorneys, working together with in-house pro bono organization in the United States, providing legal litigation and transactional matters. p counsel from PNC, volunteered to help veterans in need of military discharge upgrades, while others have dedi- cated themselves to helping domestic violence victims to obtain protective orders against their abusers.

18 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 11 • • • • • Advancing Small Businesses and Nonprofits through Legal Services

Blank Rome helps local small business owners and nonprofit leaders identify and then address key legal issues that impact the success of their business. In 2019, our Firm partnered with various organizations to provide regular small business clinics across the country that offer free legal advice on common business issues such as choice of entity, Judge James T. Giles Receives Distinguished Advocate Award by the Support Center for Child Advocates reviewing contracts, and creating and updating employee handbooks, to name a few. Blank Rome Of Counsel James T. Giles, a former chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, received the Distinguished Advocate Award from the Support Center for Child Advocates in recognition of his extraordinary efforts and countless hours devoted to improving the lives of abused and neglected children. New York Office Hosts Commercial Leasing Start Small, Think Big Legal Clinic Judge Giles was presented with the award at the Support Center for Child Advocates 2019 Annual Benefit Reception and Auction, held on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia. Blank Attorneys from Blank Rome’s New York office participated in a James T. Giles Rome was proud to be a sponsor of this event, which honored additional Distinguished Advocates as well Commercial Leasing Clinic led by Start Small, Think Big, an organization as the winners of the Eddie Ohlbaum Distinguished Advocate for Children Award, which was presented that provides legal support to small business owners and micro-­ to Blank Rome Partner Lawrence J. Beaser in 2015, and the Andi Broad Distinguished Client Award. The entrepreneurs in New York on various transactional matters. During this Support Center for Child Advocates also recognized Malcolm Jenkins of the Philadelphia Eagles with the clinic, each client was paired with a team of attorneys to review their 2019 Judge Lois G. Forer Child Advocacy Award for his service to youth in underserved communities. negotiation scenario and develop their position, strategy, and tactics for mock negotiations. After these meetings, the volunteer attorneys ­conducted the mock negotiations. Through the clinic, our volunteers were able to provide guided substantive and procedural skills training to the entrepreneurs who are either looking for new commercial spaces or Los Angeles Attorneys Honored with expect to be adding new locations soon. Public Counsel Pro Bono Award

As discussed earlier in this report, Blank Rome’s Los Angeles office was honored with Public Counsel’s Annual Pro Bono Award for their life-changing work ­representing D.C. Office Hosts Legal Clinic on Insurance and low-income senior citizens facing imminent Risk Management Practices foreclosure due to improper property tax assessments. Public Counsel is the largest pro Many nonprofit leaders struggle to understand important facts bono organization in the United States, pro- about their insurance, including what risks are covered by their viding legal services to low-income individuals policies, the circumstances­ that trigger or exclude coverage, and and families throughout Los Angeles. Public what the difference is between their carrier and their broker. To Counsel’s activities are far-ranging and impact help D.C. nonprofits develop a better understanding of these a wide spectrum of people who live at or issues, the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center and Blank Rome sponsored a below the poverty level. Volunteer attorneys legal clinic on insurance and risk management practices. Nonprofit have the opportunity to work on a variety of representatives met one-on-one with attorneys to run through different projects—large and small, litigation Blank Rome’s Los Angeles office honored with a structured checklist of insurance and risk management-related and transactional matters. questions, with the goal of clarifying key insurance concepts Public Counsel’s Annual Pro Bono Award. and spotting potential coverage issues. This clinic was a great opportunity to assist nonprofits and to enhance an attorney’s understanding of insurance issues in the nonprofit sector.

12 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 17 • • • • • Pro Bono Honors and Awards

AWARDS PRESENTED TO BLANK ROME Philadelphia Office Hosts Small Business Clinics with ACC Greater Philadelphia and Philadelphia VIP Blank Rome Receives High Rankings in The American Lawyer’s Pro Bono Scorecard In conjunction with ACC Greater Philadelphia, Blank Rome hosted numerous Philadelphia VIP Small Business Legal Blank Rome was ranked in The American Lawyer’s annual Pro Bono Scorecard. Our Firm continues to maintain a strong per- Clinics at our Firm’s Philadelphia office. At these clinics, formance in pro bono and was placed in the top 25 firms nationwide for breadth of pro bono performance, which ranks the attorneys are paired to interview clients and identify their percentage of attorneys who have completed 20 pro bono hours or more in the year prior. Furthermore, with more than 32,000 most pressing legal needs. After the clinic, Philadelphia pro bono hours completed in 2019, our Firm earned the 41st spot on the national ranking of Am Law 200 firms. VIP matches volunteers from the clinic with a client to provide representation on one discrete legal issue. A long- standing pro bono partner, Philadelphia VIP inspires and Blank Rome Receives the Houston Bar Foundation supports attorneys to provide free legal representation for Award for Outstanding Contribution to Houston Philadelphians who cannot afford to hire a lawyer and face Volunteer Lawyers Blank Rome Partner legal challenges threatening their basic human needs of Barry Abrams (right) housing, family, and income. presented with Blank Rome received the Houston Bar Foundation’s award the Houston Bar for excellence in pro bono service by a mid-size firm through Foundation Award on “outstanding firm contribution” to the Houston Volunteer behalf of the Firm, by Lawyers. The award was presented at the Foundation’s Barrett Reasoner (left), Chair of the Houston Annual Meeting and Luncheon on February 14, 2019, which Bar Foundation. was attended by approximately 500 members of the Houston bar, including judges, community and business leaders, and New York Attorneys Volunteer with Citizens Bank and members of the legal community. NELP at Small Business Clinic Blank Rome was proud to partner with in-house counsel from Citizens Bank and the Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (“NELP”) of the AWARDS PRESENTED TO BLANK ROME ATTORNEYS City Bar Justice Center to host a Small Business Clinic at our Firm’s New York office. During the clinic, volunteers provided small business owners with quality­ legal assistance, which many would otherwise be unable to Dade Thornton Recognized in Pro Bono Partnership’s Monthly Volunteer Spotlight afford, on matters such as incorporation and tax issues, contracts and agreements, commercial lease negotiations, copyrights, trademarks, Blank Rome Associate Dade J. different ways of addressing distressed real estate. Dade and and patents. p Thornton was recognized by Pro Bono NJCC worked together to research legal questions and craft Partnership (“PBP”) in their monthly new options for the city and ultimately, a new ordinance was volunteer spotlight for his outstanding enacted. Diane Sterner, NJCC’s Community Strategies Director, work with pro bono client New Jersey gave Dade the highest praise for his work. Diane noted that Attorneys from Blank Rome, Community Capital on a real estate “Dade was not only a great researcher, a quick study and a Citizens Bank, and the matter completed in 2019. gem to work with, he was willing to roll up his sleeves and col- Neighborhood Entrepreneur Dade J. Thornton laborate to help us. We can now use the results of that joint Law Project volunteer at Volunteer Spotlight Excerpt: Last year, Dade Thornton, effort to help other municipalities, nonprofit organizations, our Firm’s New York Small Business Clinic. an associate in Blank Rome’s Philadelphia office, assisted and community residents to address their problem properties long-standing PBP client, New Jersey Community Capital and improve neighborhoods.” PBP is proud to support the (“NJCC”) with an interesting real estate matter. NJCC came work of impactful nonprofits such as NJCC. We are grateful to to Pro Bono Partnership seeking assistance with reviewing Dade and all of our Blank Rome volunteers for their continued and drafting changes to a city ordinance aimed at providing efforts to help us achieve our mission.

16 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 13 • • • • • • • • • • 2019 Pro Bono Year in Review Our Pro Bono Partners

Blank Rome donated more than 32,000 pro bono hours in 2019 with an average of 55 hours Featured below is a full list of corporate and community partners that Blank Rome’s attorneys and paralegals were per attorney and 140 attorneys and paralegals completing 65 hours or more of pro proud to partner with in 2019. bono service. Blank Rome was ranked 41st in the Am Law Pro Bono Rankings Survey for work completed in 2019 CORPORATE PARTNERS Chevron • Citizens Bank • Comcast • Exxon • Lincoln Financial • PECO / PEPCO / Exelon • PNC Bank and placed in the top 25 firms nationwide for percentage of attorneys who have completed 20 pro bono hours or more in the prior year. COMMUNITY PARTNERS • ABA Death Penalty Representation Project • Legal Aid Society of New York Our Firm represented more than 1,000 pro bono clients and hosted and staffed more than 50 • American Civil Liberties Union • Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia pro bono legal clinics. • Anti-Defamation League • Legal Clinic for the Disabled • Asian American Bar Association of Houston • Legal Counsel for the Elderly • Bet Tzedek • Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Greater New York • Broward Lawyers Care • Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center 835+ hours assisting more than 196 senior citizens with life planning documents • Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Defenders Association • Matrimonial Neutral Evaluation Program of the • Catholic Charities Supreme Court of New York • Children’s Law Center • National Veterans Legal Services Program • City Bar Justice Center of New York • Nationalities Service Center • Coalition Against Slavery and Trafficking • Neighborhood Entrepreneur Legal Project of the City • Community Legal Services Bar Justice Center of New York 650+ hours working with 58 transgender clients on name change and gender • Compass • New York Lawyers Assistance Group marker documents • D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center • New York Lawyers for the Public Interest • Delaware Office of the Child Advocate • New York Women’s Bar Association • Delaware Volunteer Legal Services • Pennsylvania Innocence Project • Eastern District of Pennsylvania’s Prisoner Civil • Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Rights Panel • Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program • Federal Circuit Pro Bono Program • Pro Bono Partnership 180+ hours helping 195 refugees adjust their immigration status to legal permanent resident • Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law • Project Corazon • Her Justice • Public Counsel • HIAS Pennsylvania • Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia • Homeless Advocacy Project • Sanctuary for Families • Houston Bar Association • SeniorLAW Center 100+ hours volunteering at free legal advice clinics for low-income individuals • Houston Volunteer Lawyers • Spring Branch Family Development Center • Human Rights First • Start Small, Think Big • Immigration Equality • Support Center for Child Advocates • Juvenile Law Center • Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts • Kids in Need of Defense • The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program • Lawyers Alliance for New York • Transgender Legal Defense and Education Program 65+ hours offering free legal services and military discharge upgrade clinics to veterans • Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs • Whitman-Walker Legal Clinic • Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

14 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 15 • • • • • • • • • • 2019 Pro Bono Year in Review Our Pro Bono Partners

Blank Rome donated more than 32,000 pro bono hours in 2019 with an average of 55 hours Featured below is a full list of corporate and community partners that Blank Rome’s attorneys and paralegals were per attorney and 140 attorneys and paralegals completing 65 hours or more of pro proud to partner with in 2019. bono service. Blank Rome was ranked 41st in the Am Law Pro Bono Rankings Survey for work completed in 2019 CORPORATE PARTNERS Chevron • Citizens Bank • Comcast • Exxon • Lincoln Financial • PECO / PEPCO / Exelon • PNC Bank and placed in the top 25 firms nationwide for percentage of attorneys who have completed 20 pro bono hours or more in the prior year. COMMUNITY PARTNERS • ABA Death Penalty Representation Project • Legal Aid Society of New York Our Firm represented more than 1,000 pro bono clients and hosted and staffed more than 50 • American Civil Liberties Union • Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia pro bono legal clinics. • Anti-Defamation League • Legal Clinic for the Disabled • Asian American Bar Association of Houston • Legal Counsel for the Elderly • Bet Tzedek • Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Greater New York • Broward Lawyers Care • Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center 835+ hours assisting more than 196 senior citizens with life planning documents • Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Defenders Association • Matrimonial Neutral Evaluation Program of the • Catholic Charities Supreme Court of New York • Children’s Law Center • National Veterans Legal Services Program • City Bar Justice Center of New York • Nationalities Service Center • Coalition Against Slavery and Trafficking • Neighborhood Entrepreneur Legal Project of the City • Community Legal Services Bar Justice Center of New York 650+ hours working with 58 transgender clients on name change and gender • Compass • New York Lawyers Assistance Group marker documents • D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center • New York Lawyers for the Public Interest • Delaware Office of the Child Advocate • New York Women’s Bar Association • Delaware Volunteer Legal Services • Pennsylvania Innocence Project • Eastern District of Pennsylvania’s Prisoner Civil • Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Rights Panel • Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program • Federal Circuit Pro Bono Program • Pro Bono Partnership 180+ hours helping 195 refugees adjust their immigration status to legal permanent resident • Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law • Project Corazon • Her Justice • Public Counsel • HIAS Pennsylvania • Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia • Homeless Advocacy Project • Sanctuary for Families • Houston Bar Association • SeniorLAW Center 100+ hours volunteering at free legal advice clinics for low-income individuals • Houston Volunteer Lawyers • Spring Branch Family Development Center • Human Rights First • Start Small, Think Big • Immigration Equality • Support Center for Child Advocates • Juvenile Law Center • Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts • Kids in Need of Defense • The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program • Lawyers Alliance for New York • Transgender Legal Defense and Education Program 65+ hours offering free legal services and military discharge upgrade clinics to veterans • Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs • Whitman-Walker Legal Clinic • Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

14 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 15 • • • • • Pro Bono Honors and Awards

AWARDS PRESENTED TO BLANK ROME Philadelphia Office Hosts Small Business Clinics with ACC Greater Philadelphia and Philadelphia VIP Blank Rome Receives High Rankings in The American Lawyer’s Pro Bono Scorecard In conjunction with ACC Greater Philadelphia, Blank Rome hosted numerous Philadelphia VIP Small Business Legal Blank Rome was ranked in The American Lawyer’s annual Pro Bono Scorecard. Our Firm continues to maintain a strong per- Clinics at our Firm’s Philadelphia office. At these clinics, formance in pro bono and was placed in the top 25 firms nationwide for breadth of pro bono performance, which ranks the attorneys are paired to interview clients and identify their percentage of attorneys who have completed 20 pro bono hours or more in the year prior. Furthermore, with more than 32,000 most pressing legal needs. After the clinic, Philadelphia pro bono hours completed in 2019, our Firm earned the 41st spot on the national ranking of Am Law 200 firms. VIP matches volunteers from the clinic with a client to provide representation on one discrete legal issue. A long- standing pro bono partner, Philadelphia VIP inspires and Blank Rome Receives the Houston Bar Foundation supports attorneys to provide free legal representation for Award for Outstanding Contribution to Houston Philadelphians who cannot afford to hire a lawyer and face Volunteer Lawyers Blank Rome Partner legal challenges threatening their basic human needs of Barry Abrams (right) housing, family, and income. presented with Blank Rome received the Houston Bar Foundation’s award the Houston Bar for excellence in pro bono service by a mid-size firm through Foundation Award on “outstanding firm contribution” to the Houston Volunteer behalf of our Firm, by Lawyers. The award was presented at the Foundation’s Barrett Reasoner (left), Chair of the Houston Annual Meeting and Luncheon on February 14, 2019, which Bar Foundation. was attended by approximately 500 members of the Houston bar, including judges, community and business leaders, and New York Attorneys Volunteer with Citizens Bank and members of the legal community. NELP at Small Business Clinic Blank Rome was proud to partner with in-house counsel from Citizens Bank and the Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (“NELP”) of the AWARDS PRESENTED TO BLANK ROME ATTORNEYS City Bar Justice Center to host a Small Business Clinic at our Firm’s New York office. During the clinic, volunteers provided small business owners with quality­ legal assistance, which many would otherwise be unable to Dade Thornton Recognized in Pro Bono Partnership’s Monthly Volunteer Spotlight afford, on matters such as incorporation and tax issues, contracts and agreements, commercial lease negotiations, copyrights, trademarks, Blank Rome Associate Dade J. different ways of addressing distressed real estate. Dade and and patents. p Thornton was recognized by Pro Bono NJCC worked together to research legal questions and craft Partnership (“PBP”) in their monthly new options for the city and ultimately, a new ordinance was volunteer spotlight for his outstanding enacted. Diane Sterner, NJCC’s Community Strategies Director, work with pro bono client New Jersey gave Dade the highest praise for his work. Diane noted that Attorneys from Blank Rome, Community Capital on a real estate “Dade was not only a great researcher, a quick study and a Citizens Bank, and the matter completed in 2019. gem to work with, he was willing to roll up his sleeves and col- Neighborhood Entrepreneur Dade J. Thornton laborate to help us. We can now use the results of that joint Law Project volunteer at Volunteer Spotlight Excerpt: Last year, Dade Thornton, effort to help other municipalities, nonprofit organizations, our Firm’s New York Small Business Clinic. an associate in Blank Rome’s Philadelphia office, assisted and community residents to address their problem properties long-standing PBP client, New Jersey Community Capital and improve neighborhoods.” PBP is proud to support the (“NJCC”) with an interesting real estate matter. NJCC came work of impactful nonprofits such as NJCC. We are grateful to to Pro Bono Partnership seeking assistance with reviewing Dade and all of our Blank Rome volunteers for their continued and drafting changes to a city ordinance aimed at providing efforts to help us achieve our mission.

16 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 13 • • • • • Advancing Small Businesses and Nonprofits through Legal Services

Blank Rome helps local small business owners and nonprofit leaders identify and then address key legal issues that impact the success of their business. In 2019, our Firm partnered with various organizations to provide regular small business clinics across the country that offer free legal advice on common business issues such as choice of entity, Judge James T. Giles Receives Distinguished Advocate Award by the Support Center for Child Advocates reviewing contracts, and creating and updating employee handbooks, to name a few. Blank Rome Of Counsel James T. Giles, a former chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, received the Distinguished Advocate Award from the Support Center for Child Advocates in recognition of his extraordinary efforts and countless hours devoted to improving the lives of abused and neglected children. New York Office Hosts Commercial Leasing Start Small, Think Big Legal Clinic Judge Giles was presented with the award at the Support Center for Child Advocates 2019 Annual Benefit Reception and Auction, held on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia. Blank Attorneys from Blank Rome’s New York office participated in a James T. Giles Rome was proud to be a sponsor of this event, which honored additional Distinguished Advocates as well Commercial Leasing Clinic led by Start Small, Think Big, an organization as the winners of the Eddie Ohlbaum Distinguished Advocate for Children Award, which was presented that provides legal support to small business owners and micro-­ to Blank Rome Partner Lawrence J. Beaser in 2015, and the Andi Broad Distinguished Client Award. The entrepreneurs in New York on various transactional matters. During this Support Center for Child Advocates also recognized Malcolm Jenkins of the Philadelphia Eagles with the clinic, each client was paired with a team of attorneys to review their 2019 Judge Lois G. Forer Child Advocacy Award for his service to youth in underserved communities. negotiation scenario and develop their position, strategy, and tactics for mock negotiations. After these meetings, the volunteer attorneys ­conducted the mock negotiations. Through the clinic, our volunteers were able to provide guided substantive and procedural skills training to the entrepreneurs who are either looking for new commercial spaces or Los Angeles Attorneys Honored with expect to be adding new locations soon. Public Counsel Pro Bono Award

As discussed earlier in this report, Blank Rome’s Los Angeles office was honored with Public Counsel’s Annual Pro Bono Award for their life-changing work ­representing D.C. Office Hosts Legal Clinic on Insurance and low-income senior citizens facing imminent Risk Management Practices foreclosure due to improper property tax assessments. Public Counsel is the largest pro Many nonprofit leaders struggle to understand important facts bono organization in the United States, pro- about their insurance, including what risks are covered by their viding legal services to low-income individuals policies, the circumstances­ that trigger or exclude coverage, and and families throughout Los Angeles. Public what the difference is between their carrier and their broker. To Counsel’s activities are far-ranging and impact help D.C. nonprofits develop a better understanding of these a wide spectrum of people who live at or issues, the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center and Blank Rome sponsored a below the poverty level. Volunteer attorneys legal clinic on insurance and risk management practices. Nonprofit have the opportunity to work on a variety of representatives met one-on-one with attorneys to run through different projects—large and small, litigation Blank Rome’s Los Angeles office honored with a structured checklist of insurance and risk management-related and transactional matters. questions, with the goal of clarifying key insurance concepts Public Counsel’s Annual Pro Bono Award. and spotting potential coverage issues. This clinic was a great opportunity to assist nonprofits and to enhance an attorney’s understanding of insurance issues in the nonprofit sector.

12 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 17 BLANK ROME PRO BONO AWARDS Throughout the summer of 2019, Blank Rome presented its annual Pro Bono Awards to our Firm’s attorneys for their outstanding pro bono work completed the year prior.

Blank Rome’s Los Angeles office honored with Public Counsel’s Annual Pro Bono Award. Blank Rome Presents 2019 Edwin P. Rome Pro Bono Achievement Award to John E. Heintz

Blank Rome Partner John E. Heintz was presented with our Firm’s 2019 Edwin P. Rome Pro Bono Achievement Award in recognition of his lifelong commitment to pro bono service and his many achievements on behalf of his pro bono clients. Named in honor of one of Blank Rome’s founding partners, the Edwin P. Rome Pro Bono Achievement Award was created in 2004 to recognize outstanding performance and a demonstrated commit- ment to pro bono legal service each year.

John E. Heintz John serves as a member of Blank Rome’s Firm-wide Pro Bono Committee and our Washington, D.C., Pro Bono Coordinating Committee. He has also served on the board of directors of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs as well as the Legal Aid Society of D.C. Throughout his career, John has handled large, impactful pro bono litigation involving issues of discrimination and unfair practices in both housing and insurance industries. In recent years, he has been a champion of Blank Rome’s ­housing Right to Counsel pro bono project with the Legal Aid Society, where our attorneys represent tenants in sub­sidized housing who are facing eviction and the loss of housing subsidies, preventing them from becoming homeless. “ The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service

of others. I H D N A G Blank Rome Presents 2019 Comisky Cup to Pittsburgh Office MA M AHAT

Blank Rome’s 2019 Comisky Cup was presented to our Firm’s Pittsburgh office, which had 100 percent partici- pation in pro bono the year prior, with an average of 81 Los Angeles Attorneys Honored with Public Counsel Pro Bono Award hours of pro bono work completed per attorney.­ Named In December 2019, Blank Rome’s Los Angeles office was services to low-income individuals and families throughout in honor of Marvin Comisky, Blank Rome’s first manag- honored with Public Counsel’s Annual Pro Bono Award for Los Angeles. Public Counsel’s activities are far-ranging and ing partner, the Comisky Cup is awarded annually to the office(s) with the highest pro bono performance at our their life-changing work representing low-income senior impact a wide spectrum of people who live at or below the Firm. Our Pittsburgh office handled a variety of import- citizens facing imminent foreclosure due to improper poverty level. Volunteer attorneys have the opportunity ant, compelling pro bono matters in 2018. Many of our property tax assessments. Public Counsel is the largest to work on a variety of different projects—large and small, Pittsburgh attorneys, working together with in-house pro bono organization in the United States, providing legal litigation and transactional matters. p counsel from PNC, volunteered to help veterans in need of military discharge upgrades, while others have dedi- cated themselves to helping domestic violence victims to obtain protective orders against their abusers.

18 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 11 • • • • • BLANK ROME PRESENTS PRO BONO HEROES AWARDS Helping Low-Income Seniors Gain Access to Justice Pittsburgh Office Blank Rome makes it a priority to provide free legal and advocacy services to the members of our community who Joe E. Culleiton, Shawna J. Henry, David M. Jacobson, are often most in need: senior citizens. Notably, our attorneys regularly help low-income seniors prepare and execute and Alexandra M. Popovnak were recognized for their advance planning documents, such as wills, living wills, and powers of attorney. In 2019, our Firm partnered with work on behalf of a pro bono client in a section 1983 civil the SeniorLAW Center to provide 13 legal clinics, offering these services to nearly 200 senior citizens and completing rights case for a wrongful murder conviction. Our client approximately 775 life planning documents. was exonerated after spending 11 years imprisoned for a ­murder she did not commit. After the Pennsylvania Innocence Project was successful in having our client’s conviction vacated, they asked our team to take on our Blank Rome Continues Life Planning Pro Bono Legal Partnership with the SeniorLAW Center ­client’s civil rights case. The Blank Rome pro bono team has since then successfully filed suit for malicious pros- ecution, due process violations, and supervisory ­liability Since 2010, Blank Rome has partnered with the SeniorLAW Blank Rome and our attorneys have received significant Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Award and Pro Bono Hero Award winners from our Center to help low-income seniors prepare and execute recognition for the pro bono work done with the SeniorLAW against eight defendants. Pittsburgh office. advance planning documents—wills, living wills, and powers­ Center. In 2018, Blank Rome was recognized as an Access of attorney—at monthly senior center legal clinics in to Justice Champion at the inaugural SeniorLAW Center Philadelphia/Princeton/Wilmington Offices Philadelphia. Our Firm is deeply committed to the SeniorLAW and AARP Pennsylvania Pro Bono Awards. In 2017, Blank Center and is proud of the pro bono work done through the Rome Partner Lawrence J. Beaser was honored with the Lauren E. O’Donnell, Leigh Ann Buziak, and Melissa Fundora Mary Anne Kowalczyk, Alvin Martin, Sandie Quinn, and partnership and in collaboration with corporate partners, such SeniorLAW Center’s prestigious Champion of the Year award Murphy were recognized for their excellent work on a juve- Erica Torriero were honored for their ongoing work at our as Comcast, Vanguard, PECO/Exelon, and PNC Bank. Since its in recognition of his support and advocacy for justice and the nile “lifer” resentencing matter. Their client was only 16 years SeniorLAW Center clinics serving as notaries and witnesses, as inception, Blank Rome and the SeniorLAW Center have helped rights of seniors, and the significant impact he has made in old when he was sentenced to life in prison, without the pos- well as their outstanding contributions to our pro bono clients more than 1,500 low-income seniors with these important improving and enriching the lives of others. In 2015, our Firm sibility of parole, for his role in a murder that occurred during and the pro bono program. This group is always willing to do a botched robbery of a neighborhood store. In 2016, when whatever is needed to support our clients, and treats clients documents. In 2019, Blank Rome partnered with SeniorLAW was honored at the First Judicial District Pro Bono Awards in the team became involved, their client had already been in with kindness, sensitivity, and compassion. Furthermore, Alvin Center and paralegal students in Delaware County Community recognition of its pro bono representation of an 88-year-old prison for 23 years. After gathering character evidence and has become our in-house birth certificate specialist, handling College’s Paralegal Associates program to provide life planning World War II veteran, Ray White, in a SeniorLAW Center case working with the new district attorney, the team was able to all of the birth certificate requests for our Homeless Advocacy services to low-income seniors in the Delaware County area. that had been ongoing for more than two years, spanning present character evidence at a rehearing from many of their Project clients; Erica has volunteered several times to help us This was the first community clinic in Delaware County. both criminal and civil actions. client’s family members and friends, including the client’s run our biggest pro bono clinics, doing whatever is needed to daughter who spoke to her father’s positive influence on her keep everything running smoothly; Mary Anne regularly vol- life. Based on all of the evidence, the court agreed to allow unteers to help refugees through Nationalities Service Center, resentencing and their client became eligible for parole, and has worked on several U-Visa cases for immigrant clients; which gives him hope and something to strive for. and Sandie often lends her expertise to help with pro bono probate matters through Philadelphia VIP.

Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Award and Pro Bono Hero Award winners from our Philadelphia, Attorneys from Blank Rome and in-house counsel from Comcast at a SeniorLAW Center clinic held in our Firm’s Philadelphia office in November 2019. Princeton, and Wilmington offices.

10 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 19 BLANK ROME PRESENTS PRO BONO HEROES AWARDS (CONTINUED)

Washington, D.C., Office Jon Grossman was honored for his work with several non- while unlicensed and because of their unlawful request profit organizations on intellectual property matters. One of payment in advance. Ross fought tirelessly for his client Houston Office Partners with Houston Volunteer Blank Rome Volunteers for the National Veterans such organization was Conservation International, a global over the span of seven months, and helped him receive a Lawyers to Offer Clinics for Veterans Legal Services Program’s Lawyers Serving Warriors nonprofit focused on conservation, preservation of nature, settlement in the amount of $55,000, which he was able to Project climate stability, and other related issues. Jon has also done a use to repair his home. Led by Blank Rome Partner Jeremy A. Herschaft, volunteer great deal of work with the News Literacy Project, an organi- attorneys from our Houston office participate in the Houston Blank Rome was proud to participate in Lawyers Serving zation that works to improve the news and media literacy of Alex E. Hassid and Alexander H. Berman, both litigators, Volunteer Lawyers’ weekly legal advice clinics held every Warriors, a pro bono project of the National Veterans Legal young people as they navigate the world in the digital age. were honored for their pro bono work outside of their usual Friday for veterans and spouses of deceased veterans. At Services Program that offers pro bono legal help with disabil- Jon’s work with these organizations highlights his commit- area of focus. In conjunction with the Public Interest Law these walk-in legal advice clinics, which are open to anyone ity issues to veterans from all eras. A new Lawyers Serving ment to his local, national, and global communities through Center of Philadelphia, the ARC of Pennsylvania, Disability needing legal advice, applicants meet with a licensed Texas Warriors partner in 2019, Blank Rome volunteers accepted pro bono work. Furthermore, he recently led a clinic that Rights Pennsylvania, and Vision for Equality Inc., Alex and attorney one-on-one and receive free legal advice on their four medical retirement cases, including one ligation case focused on intellectual property matters for small businesses Alexander worked on an amicus brief that advocated for the legal issue. at the Court of Appeals for Federal Claims. For these mat- in Washington, D.C., which aided several local businesses in rights of individuals with disabilities. The aforementioned ters, volunteers assist veterans with physical and/or mental dealing with their IP issues. organizations were advocating on behalf of a client who was disabilities incurred in service to obtain a military disability diagnosed with an intellectual disability retirement, which confers disability benefits and access to as a child. Later in life, their client was Veterans Administration healthcare. Blank Rome volunteers convicted of first-degree murder and also accepted four Military Sexual Trauma cases and one given a sentence of life without parole. No one is case before the Board of Veteran Appeals. For these matters, This conviction was based on a con- useless in this volunteers assist veterans who have developed mental health fession given to police after a lengthy world who lightens issues arising from sexual trauma/abuse while serving in the questioning process by a detective who military. These clients are seeking monthly disability benefits was then removed from the force due the burdens of through the Veterans Administration. to charges of abuse and misconduct. another. Alex and Alexander aided disability rights organizations in advocating for NS CKE their client. They argued that due to CHARLES DI the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Award and Pro Bono Hero Award winners from our Washington, D.C., office. and unusual punishment, as well as the precedent set in Miller v. Alabama, Ross E. Coe was honored for his work on an elder contractor the sentence of life without parole in the case of their client Keith Letourneau and Zach Wyatte Represent Mariners in Suspension and Revocation Proceedings fraud matter. In collaboration with Alan M. Freeman, ought to be vacated. Their client’s sentence was lifted, and Ross represented an elderly client who was the victim of his confession was invalidated based on evidence of police Blank Rome Partner Keith B. Letourneau and Associate Zachary J. Wyatte serve contractor fraud. After paying a contracting company for a misconduct and abuse of a witness. on the U.S. Coast Guard Administrative Law Judge’s panel of pro bono counsel for great deal of repair work on his home, the client was faced merchant mariner suspension and revocation proceedings, which are typically with irreparable damage to his house. The company in instituted by the Coast Guard against a mariner who has committed misconduct question was so ill-prepared to carry out the renovations that (e.g., drug use), or engaged in the negligent operation of a vessel. Together, in the home became essentially uninhabitable after their work “ 2019, the attorneys have assisted a number of merchant mariners against whom was completed. Furthermore, the company had violated the Injustice the Coast Guard initiated such proceedings, including a mariner who tested posi- Keith B. Letourneau Zachary J. Wyatte D.C. Consumer Protection Act by conducting the construction anywhere is a tive for opiate metabolites after ingesting CBD, and another mariner with respect to an alleged positive drug test for amphetamines. In these cases, the attorneys threat to justice were able to negotiate a resolution that enabled each mariner to keep his respec- . R J tive license after challenging the validity of the Coast Guard’s claims by employing everywhere. , G IN an expert toxicologist to evaluate the test results and processes. p K R HE UT M ARTIN L

20 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 9 • • • • • Obtaining Military Discharge Upgrades and Benefits for Veterans

Blank Rome is proud to support our nation’s veterans and their families through our pro bono program. Our Firm conducts regular military discharge upgrade legal clinics across the country, helping individuals fight against the injustice of their other-than-honorable discharges and obtain the military benefits they deserve. We also provide important legal advice free of charge to our nation’s veterans and their loved ones. In 2019, our Firm continued to partner with The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program and Houston Volunteer Lawyers to provide more than 65 hours of pro bono service to veterans.

Blank Rome Hosts Military Discharge Upgrade Clinic in Wilmington and Pittsburgh

Blank Rome partnered with The Veterans Consortium to host military discharge upgrade clinics in Wilmington and Pittsburgh. During the clinics, attorney teams met with interested veterans and, using Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Award and Pro Bono Hero Award winners from our New York office. reference materials provided by The Veterans Consortium, evaluated whether a veteran is eligible for an upgrade from an other-than-honorable discharge. Receiving a discharge upgrade can significantly impact the client’s ability to access critically needed veterans benefits, including access to housing and New York Office healthcare. To allow a qualifying veteran to change his/her discharge status is something that could Alexandra Clark was honored for her work on behalf of arrears and adjust his child support payments accordingly. have a life-changing impact for the client. In Wilmington, our Blank Rome volunteers were joined by immigrants through Kids in Need of Defense and the Human They have also done work for a client who struggled with in-house counsel from PEPCO/Exelon. In Pittsburgh, our volunteers partnered with in-house counsel Trafficking Legal Center. Alexandra represented a husband addiction and needed aid with matters of equitable distribu- from PNC Bank on this important work. and wife who moved to the United States for visas and work tion, spousal maintenance, and child custody. For this client, opportunities. The couple did move to the United States, and just as they have done for many others, they worked tirelessly they were forced to work without pay for eight months. They to ensure that they received the support and advocacy they had paid the trafficker over $85,000 for Green Cards, which deserved. they never received. The couple eventually were awarded T-visas, which are special visas for victims of human traffick- Evan Jason Zucker was recognized for his commitment ing. Alexandra, in collaboration with Lauren B. Wilgus and to pro bono work. He serves as the co-chair for our New Anthony A. Mingione, filed a complaint in the Eastern District York Pro Bono Coordinating Committee and is a true pro of New York. The matter is ongoing. bono leader within our Firm. Along with Dalila J. Berry of Philadelphia, Evan helped establish “Finance, Restructuring, Sydney Lim and Ernestine J. Mings were recognized for their and Bankruptcy Pro Bono Month,” a Firm-wide initiative excellent work in family law matters. As matrimonial lawyers, that strongly encouraged our Finance, Restructuring, they were able to aid one of their clients who was a New York and Bankruptcy practice group members to take on a City bus driver who had been badly injured in an accident and pro bono matter or attend a clinic in May 2019. Evan has was unable to work. Their client had been dutifully fulfilling done substantial work with the City Bar Justice Center, the his support obligation for his son, but due to the accident and Neighborhood Entrepreneur Project small business legal his resulting inability to work, became unable to pay. Sydney clinics, and the non-partisan Election Protection program for and Ernestine advocated for their client to help reduce his the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Blank Rome and PECO/Exelon volunteers at a Military Discharge Upgrade Clinic in Wilmington, Delaware.

8 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 21 • • • • • BLANK ROME PRESENTS PRO BONO HEROES AWARDS (CONTINUED) Preserving Housing and Supporting the Homeless Los Angeles Office Blank Rome is committed to providing legal and advocacy services aimed at preventing homelessness for individuals and families in our communities. In 2019, our Firm spent more than 70 hours partnering with organizations like Dennis M.P. Ehling was honored for his work on our Los Angeles Pro Bono Coordinating Project HOME and the Homeless Advocacy Project to provide clients with free legal services and connect them with Committee and on several pro bono matters. This includes an asylum case that has been other crucial social services. ongoing for several years in which he represents a client and her two children who fled to the United States to escape abuse. In collaboration with the Bet Tzedek Name and Gender Marker Change Project, Dennis has worked in support­ of several clients and D.C. Attorneys Obtain Dismissal of Eviction Action in Subsidized Housing Case advocated for the endeavors of the organization. emotionally from the trauma of his childhood abuse, and had Dennis M.P. Ehling difficulty controlling his anger when confronted with contro- versy. He tried many times, but always failed to hold a job. Harrison M. Brown and Dustin Z. Moaven were recognized for their excellent work on a recent asylum matter. Their client fled Russia to escape persecution for his role With help from the D.C. Housing Authority and charitable in political protests that were opposing the current government. At age 19, their organizations, the pro bono client was finally settled into an client began his involvement in these organizations,­ however, he soon started to apartment. His condition, however, resulted in periodic erratic Albert B. Krachman Frederick M. Lowther Robyn N. Burrows receive threatening letters and was attacked. He was unable to report any of these behavior and the landlord sued to evict him. The Blank Rome advances due to a lack of trust he had in his local federal authorities. At the “March Blank Rome Partners Albert B. Krachman and Frederick pro bono team interposed a defense in the eviction case and of Millions” protest in Russia, their client was incarcerated while suffering from a M. Lowther and Associate Robyn N. Burrows successfully obtained a dismissal of the action, saving the client’s housing Harrison M. Brown Dustin Z. Moaven broken arm, which was a result of violence that broke out during the march. During represented a pro bono client in an eviction proceeding in a subsidy. Working with the client and an organization devoted another protest, his leg broke after he was beaten by the police. After being drafted subsidized housing case. If a tenant with subsidized housing to housing the homeless (Miriam’s Kitchen), the Blank Rome into the Russian military, their client fled to the United States seeking asylum. is evicted, they lose their right to a subsidy and often end up team was then able to relocate the client to another subsi- Harrison and Dustin have since been working ceaselessly on their client’s case. without any public housing. The client was an abused child dized housing apartment, and he now has a fresh start in a who left home at a very young age, and lived on the streets of new home. Washington, D.C., for over 25 years. He suffered mentally and

Blank Rome Continues Longstanding Partnership Blank Rome Staffs Birth Certificate Clinics with Legal Aid’s Housing Right to Counsel Project for the Homeless

Blank Rome is proud to have partnered with the Legal Aid Blank Rome partnered with Legal Aid of Southeastern PA Society of D.C.’s Housing Right to Counsel Project since its and the Homeless Advocacy Project to host community inception in 2015, when Partner John E. Heintz, who was birth certificate clinics. At these clinics, volunteers met with named Legal Aid’s 2020 Servant of Justice Award recipient, homeless individuals in need of government ID and con- was instrumental in getting our Firm involved in the pilot ducted very brief background interviews to fill out a short project for these cases. This project aims to dramatically form with the information needed to request a birth certif- expand access to counsel for tenants in subsidized housing icate. In December 2019, Pennsylvania officially announced who are facing eviction. Legal counsel is particularly import- that it is waiving birth certificate fees for the homeless. The ant in these cases, where eviction also can result in the loss fee is normally $20, and birth certificates are required for of an invaluable housing subsidy, too often leading to a spiral identification for access to benefits and other assistance. The into homelessness and hopelessness. Blank Rome has spent Homeless Advocacy Project attributed this significant change hundreds of hours on these cases, and has had at least 10 to Blank Rome’s efforts, which were leveraged to obtain a different attorneys and paralegals handling these matters. legislative fix to the problem of access to birth certificates for the homeless. p

22 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 7 D.C. Attorneys Volunteer at Medicare Part D Clinic

Blank Rome was proud to partner with Exelon and the Medicare Part D website can make the analysis confusing Whitman-Walker Health to provide a Medicare Part D Clinic and complicated, the Medicare Part D Clinic was particularly at Whitman-Walker’s new location at the LIZ building in timely and significant for clients. During the clinic, volunteer Washington, D.C. The half-day clinic served 21 clients of attorneys offered dedicated time and legal assistance to Whitman-Walker, a D.C.-based health center for the LGBTQ+ review plan options and ensure that clients chose the best community and those living with HIV/AIDS. plan for their prescription needs in the upcoming year.

Medicare Part D is the part of Medicare that provides pre- Blank Rome Partners Saminaz Akhter and Brett S. Snyder scription drug coverage. Those enrolled in Medicare must also did an outstanding job organizing and spearheading this enroll in a separate Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to effort. They were joined by an enthusiastic team of have prescription drug coverage. Because the new changes to volunteers from Blank Rome and Exelon.

Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Award and Pro Bono Hero Award winners from our Houston office.

Houston Office Marquel S. Jordan and Robert P. Scott were recognized for their work on several pro bono cases in different fields, however one of their recent immigration cases truly highlights their dedication and commitment to pro bono. For several years, Marquel and Bob have been representing a minor from Honduras, who has been going through the process of attaining I measure Special Immigrant Juvenile status. The client, abandoned at three years old, and who has experienced many unthinkable hardships, fled to the success in terms of United States at a young age to live with her aunt. Marquel and Bob, in the contributions an concert with Kids in Need of Defense, have been working to help their client attain asylum status for some time. Due to several complications in the individual makes to immigration process, this case has presented several challenges, all of which her fellow human Marquel and Bob have accepted and fought. beings. D A E Candace Childress was also recognized for her remarkable commitment M ET to pro bono at Blank Rome. Candace spearheads several group volunteer AR RG opportunities for our Firm and ensures that there are always enough volun- MA Blank Rome volunteers, together with in-house counsel from Exelon and staff from Whitman-Walker, at the Medicare Part D Clinic in Washington, D.C. teers to fulfill Blank Rome’s commitment with Houston Volunteer Lawyers. She has been a critical part of our Houston office’s maintenance of the “Equal Access to Justice” champion title. p

6 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 23 • • • • • Blank Rome Pro Bono Honor Roll

Blank Rome’s attorneys and paralegals recognized below completed 65 hours or more of pro bono service in 2019. Jeremy Herschaft Obtains Trailblazing Birth Certificate Change for Houston Name and Gender Marker Change Client

Barry Abrams John P. Curp James D. Kelly David M. Perry Blank Rome Partner Jeremy A. Herschaft obtained an Rick Antonoff Michael R. Darbee Leena Ketkar Alexander S. Perry outstanding result on behalf of one of our Houston office’s name and gender marker change cases. The client had pre- Roy W. Arnold Brendan D. Delany John D. Kimball Stacy D. Phillips viously given birth to a son, and thereafter decided to have Samar Aryani-Sabet Edwin L. Edwards Casey L. Klein Adrien C. Pickard a gender reassignment procedure from female to male. Do your little bit of Michael J. Barry Dennis M.P. Ehling Jeremy N. Kolman Adam Proujansky During his representation, Jeremy assisted the client with Morgan Barry Jonathan W.S. England Albert B. Krachman William L. Purtell obtaining an order to legally change the client’s name and good where you are; Lawrence J. Beaser Michael R. Esposito Martin S. Krezalek James J. Quinlan Jeremy A. Herschaft gender assignment (from female to male) so that this could it’s those little bits Samuel H. Becker Michael J. Feinman Adam E. Laver Sandra Quinn be reflected on critical documents (i.e., official records, driver’s license, etc.). The of good put together Gregory S. Bergman Richard A. Fineman Evan H. Lechtman Lamiya N. Rahman primary application to the court for a name and gender marker change was not Alexander H. Berman Blake Fink Mark M. Lee Jason E. Reisman unusual. However, in this very unique instance, Jeremy added additional language that overwhelm the Joan M. Bondareff Andrew K. Fletcher Lois J. Liberman Jeffrey Rosenfeld in the court’s order that instructed the Texas birth certificate department to world. further change the client’s name and gender identity on the son’s birth certificate U T Liza J. Brackman Ronald W. Frank Sydney Lim Stefanos N. Roulakis U from “mother” to “parent.” The court granted the request to include the addi- T ND Bridget M. Briggs Tjasse L. Fritz Domingo M. Llagostera Shareen Sarwar MO tional language. This secondary request is highly unusual, and is one of the few of DES Joshua L. Broderson Blair A. Gerold Jonathan A. Loeb Erika R. Schulz its kind completed in Texas. Thomas M. Brodowski Michelle M. Gervais Michael C. Lupton Douglas J. Shoemaker Robyn N. Burrows Megann E. Gibson Tara L. Marcus Michael D. Silberfarb Melanie S. Carter James T. Giles Riki Mandell McGettigan Julianna M. Simon Henry C. Cashen Ariel S. Glasner Luke W. Meier Megan E. Spitz Ashley N. Catalano-Leckerman Michael C. Greenbaum Paul M. Messina Thomas J. Szymanski Blank Rome Earns Perfect Score in 2019 Corporate Equality Index Grace C. Chamoun Jon Grossman Dominique A. Meyer Frank L. Tamulonis Caroline S. Choi Ricky M. Guerra Robyn L. Michaelson Jane Thomas Blank Rome received a perfect score of 100 percent on the 2019 Corporate Equality Index (“CEI”), a national benchmarking Stephanie C. Chomentowski Victoria A. Guilfoyle Joel Michel Peter I. Tsoflias survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality administered by the Human Rights Thomas P. Cialino Bryan J. Hall Anthony A. Mingione Santiago Vallejo Campaign Foundation (“HRC”). With this score, Blank Rome has been designated for the fourth year in a row as a “Best Place to Michael K. Clare Andrew T. Hambelton Ernestine J. Mings Samuel M. Ventresca Work for LGBTQ+ Equality” by the HRC, and joins the ranks of major U.S. businesses that earned top marks this year. Alexandra Clark John E. Heintz Dustin Z. Moaven Mary T. Vidas The 2019 CEI rated 1,028 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBTQ+ policies Melvin A. Cobb Jr. Terry M. Henry James R. Murray Robert Wessely and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner Amy J. Coles Jeremy A. Herschaft Jaleh Najafali Stephen T. Whelan benefits, transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits, competency programs, and public Erin L. Coppock Stephanie E. Holden Andrew A. Napier Christopher C. Wilcoxson engagement with the LGBTQ+ community. Blank Rome’s efforts in satisfying all of the Bradford C. Craig Brooke T. Iley Jaime L. Nucifora Lauren B. Wilgus CEI’s criteria resulted in a 100-percent ranking and the designation as a “Best Place to Heidi G. Crikelair David M. Jacobson Kathy E. Ochroch Sarah A. Wilson Work for LGBTQ Equality.” Ioana Cristei Elena P. Jacque James R. O’Neill Shawn M. Wright Ryan E. Cronin Shadi E. Jahangir Stephen M. Orlofsky Zachary J. Wyatte The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve Gregory P. Cronin Emma C. Jones Victoria Ortega Huaou Yan equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as Michaela L. Cronin Michael Joseph Rachel A. Packer Naomi A. Zwillenberg full members of society at home, at work, and in every community. p Francis X. Crowley Peter H. Jost Ameya V. Paradkar Joseph E. Culleiton Regina S. Kelbon Brian S. Paszamant

24 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 5 • • • • • • • • • • Advocating for LGBTQ+ Equality A Look Ahead

Blank Rome is proud to participate in numerous pro bono legal projects that support the LGBTQ+ community. Blank Rome is proud of the pro bono recognitions and activities our Firm and attorneys have accomplished so far this Notably, in 2019, our Firm continued to partner with Bet Tzedek Legal Services and the Transgender Legal Defense year, which we will highlight in greater detail in our next Pro Bono Report. The summary below offers a quick overview and Education Fund on multiple name and gender marker change projects, totaling more than 650 hours of pro bono of our pro bono program from the first half of 2020 and our priorities moving forward. service for nearly 60 clients.

Blank Rome Attorneys Assist Transgender Clients with Name and Gender Marker Changes Addressing the Pandemic and Racism in Our Society

Blank Rome continued the important work of helping the pro bono legal aid arm of the Houston Bar Association. The need for pro bono service to address the many injustices that individuals and families in our community transgender and gender-variant individuals update their In Philadelphia, New York City, and Pittsburgh, Blank Rome’s experience each day is more important now than ever before. During the last seven months, our country has identification documents to reflect their correct name and attorneys have volunteered to staff numerous Name and been deeply impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, which has fundamentally­ changed the way we work and live. gender identity. There is an enormous, unmet need for these Gender Marker Change Clinics through the Transgender Legal Additionally, current events have sparked rightful outrage regarding the racial inequity and injustice faced by Black services. For many in the transgender community, securing Defense and Education Fund (“TLDEF”), a nonprofit whose Americans and people of color every day. a legal name change is a critical step to ensure their legal mission is to end discrimination and achieve equality for identities match their lived experience. A lack of appropriate transgender people,­ particularly those in our most vulnerable Although there is no simple solution for these complicated issues, our Firm is proud to promote many remote identity documents can deter people from applying for jobs, communities. projects addressing challenges presented by COVID-19, including clinics assisting small businesses, eviction school, and public benefits, and can lead to discrimination prevention, and unemployment benefits. We have also formed pro bono working groups addressing issues faced by and harassment. This work is straightforward for the attorney, In addition to the pro bono legal clinics, Blank Rome attor- our communities of color, including discrimination and civil rights cases, systemic­ injustices in the criminal justice but has a truly life-changing impact on the client. neys have handled individual name change cases through system, and more. We are confident that, through collective action, we can work together to attack some of the the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Greater New York effects of this pandemic and move our country toward greater justice and equality. In Los Angeles, our attorneys volunteered to staff numer- (“LeGaL”) and TLDEF. We began our partnerships with LeGaL ous Name and Gender Marker Change Clinics through Bet and TLDEF to provide assistance on these cases in 2016. Tzedek Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm that provides free, Since then, our attorneys have handled more than 25 of comprehensive legal services to low-income Los Angeles res- these cases in our New York office and many more in our idents. In Houston, our attorneys held that office’s first Name Philadelphia office. Blank Rome Joins Newly Launched Law Firm Antiracism Alliance Change Clinic in partnership with Houston Volunteer Lawyers, Blank Rome is proud to announce that our Firm has joined the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (“LFAA”), a coalition of more than 250 firms to date that will work with other organizations that are uniting to identify and dismantle systemic racism in the law and in government institutions. Notably, the LFAA will facilitate large-scale pro bono projects that address systemic ­racism that are both immediate­ and long-term in scope, with priority areas determined by affected communities, community organizers, policy experts, and legal aid partners.

In joining the LFAA and upholding its Charter, Blank Rome and ­fellow participating firms “commit to leverage the resources of the private bar to amplify the voices of communities and individuals oppressed by racism; better use the law as a vehicle for change to benefit communities of color; and to promote racial equity in the law and in government institutions.” Additionally, law firms “acknowledge their ongoing responsibility to increase diversity, equitable access to opportunities and inclusion of people of color within their ranks, Blank Rome’s attorneys, with TLDEF and in-house counsel from PECO/Exelon, host a transgender name change legal clinic at the William Way LGBT Community Center. and, in tandem with the LFAA’s pro bono efforts, the leaders of LFAA law firms are committed to exam- ining and eliminating­ internal policies and practices that may perpetuate racial inequities within law firm structures and to empowering diversity and inclusion professionals through this process.”

4 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 25 Blank Rome Hosts Private Film Screenings of Just Mercy Blank Rome was proud to host a series of private film understanding the systems of inequality and injustice in our “ screenings of Just Mercy, which tells the true story of young country, and paving the way toward justice and healing. As defense attorney Bryan Stevenson and his fight for the life of part of Blank Rome’s ongoing commitment to Pro Bono and We must do the Walter McMillian after he was sentenced to death for murder Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, our Firm was honored to work that justice despite evidence proving his innocence. The exclusive events share such a special experience with our clients and friends and equality Mike Joseph Leads Blank Rome’s Efforts in were held in Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; and Houston at and to engage in a meaningful dialogue on a topic about Assisting Foreign Nationals Seeking Asylum the end of January 2020. which we all care deeply. Our Firm was also honored to calls us to do. in the United States dedicate the screenings in memory of the inspiring life and IS W This inspirational film starring Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, legacy of our late colleague Judge Nathaniel R. Jones, who LE In recent years, the asylum system N OH and Brie Larson sparks important conversations around was one of the brightest legal minds and civil rights advocates REP. J has become overwhelmed and its shifting the narrative on race in America, reexamining and of our time. governing statutes subject to more con- servative interpretation, with applicants waiting six years or more for their initial Blank Rome Participates in Federal Tort Claim interview and decision. Blank Rome Act Project Senior Counsel Michael Joseph, who Michael Joseph has led our Firm’s initiative on these Asylum-seeking families who were separated at the U.S. kinds of cases since his retirement in 2011, focuses most of border are able to file FTCA (Federal Tort Claim Act) cases to his efforts on assisting foreign nationals seeking asylum in the recover damages for the trauma they suffered during the sep- United States. arations. The procedure for an FTCA claim involves two steps: the first step is filing an administrative claim with the U.S. gov- Through this work, Blank Rome was able to help an Eritrean ernment (within two years of the wrongdoing or negligence), refugee and his wife obtain an interview in late 2019 and a the second is a lawsuit in federal court. favorable decision in April 2020. Our client had been perse- cuted by Eritrean security agents who falsely accused him of In 2019, Blank Rome participated in a special, limited pro spying on behalf of the CIA. bono project that focused on the first step (i.e., the filing of the administrative FTCA claim). The goal of the project is to Under Mike’s guidance in this area, more than two dozen assist separated families in preserving their claims, before attorneys from across our Firm also often represent success- the two-year statute of limitations expires. Through this ful asylum seekers by continuing to assist them in obtaining project, Blank Rome volunteers were able to communicate Green Cards and eventually becoming U.S. citizens. A recent with clients to explain the legal procedure to them and obtain example involved a Pakistani woman whose 2014 asylum basic biographical information from them. The volunteer grant was based on her long-term abusive treatment as a then prepared a complaint and filed it in the administrative servant of her husband’s family following her husband’s proceeding, ensuring the client would not be barred by the desertion. She and her three daughters now enjoy the Blank Rome’s attorneys and guests at our Firm’s Just Mercy viewings in January. statute of limitations. The cases are very moving, with many ­ultimate protection of U.S. citizenship. p involving very young children who were separated from their asylum-seeking parents when they crossed through official ports of entry on the southern border of the United States.

26 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 3 • • • • • Supporting Immigrants in Our Communities

Blank Rome is proud to provide representation and advocacy for asylum seekers, refugees, and other immigrants, and to have joined in the crucial fight to reunite families who have been separated at our Southern border. In 2019, our Adam Orlacchio Presented with Blank Rome’s 2020 Susan Bickley Named Chair and Houston Office Firm partnered with the Nationalities Service Center to provide adjustment of status clinics for 195 clients, totaling Edwin P. Rome Pro Bono Achievement Award Honored at Houston Bar Foundation’s Annual Meeting more than 180 hours of pro bono service. Blank Rome Partner Adam V. Orlacchio Blank Rome Partner Susan L. Bickley was presented with our Firm’s 2020 was inducted as chair of the Houston Edwin P. Rome Pro Bono Achievement Bar Foundation and our Firm’s Houston Philadelphia Office Continues Partnership with #TakeActionPhilly to Offer Adjustment of Status Clinics Award in recognition of his personal office was honored for its “Outstanding commitment to, and leadership in, Mid-Size Firm Contribution to Blank Rome was proud to partner with the Nationalities Philadelphia, and a number of prominent nonprofit legal aid performing pro bono litigation on Houston Volunteers Lawyers” at the Service Center and the City of Philadelphia Office of organizations with the goal of uniting lawyers, government, behalf of indigent tenants in numerous Foundation’s 2020 Annual Meeting. Immigrant Affairs’ Language Access Program to host community organizations, and residents to protect and assist Adam V. Orlacchio ­landlord-tenant cases in Philadelphia Susan L. Bickley Susan has been a member of the numerous clinics that assisted refugees in adjusting their Philadelphia’s most vulnerable residents, focusing first on and Wilmington for the past decade. Adam’s leadership Foundation’s board of directors since 2018 and received its status to legal permanent residency (Green Card holders). refugee and immigration policy. in this area is especially important at this time, as tenants President’s Award in 2010 and 2011. In her role as board This is a major milestone in many clients’ immigration all across the country face an onslaught of these sorts of chair, Susan will lead the Foundation’s mission of supporting processes to the United States, granting them a greater sense ­landlord-tenant cases due to the financial devastation of programs that help provide legal representation to the of permanency and an important step toward citizenship. the COVID-19 pandemic. Adam is also co-chairing our Firm’s indigent, promote community understanding of the legal newly formed Housing/Eviction Protection Pro Bono Working system, and foster the administration of justice. These clinics were part of the city’s #TakeActionPhilly Group to address the impact of racism in our society. ­initiative. In November 2017, Blank Rome was recognized by the City of Philadelphia for its essential role in the formation of Take Action Philly, an initiative that was launched in February 2017 by the Philadelphia Bar Association, City of Kathy Ochroch Honored as Champion of Justice by Blank Rome Presents 2020 Comisky Cup to Firm’s SeniorLAW Center Princeton Office

Blank Rome Partner and Director of Pro Bono Services Kathy Blank Rome’s 2020 Comisky Cup was presented to our Firm’s E. Ochroch has been named one of the SeniorLAW Center’s Princeton office, which led our Firm’s pro bono activity with 2020 Champions of Justice. The notable recognition honors an average of 107 pro bono hours per attorney last year. individuals for their excellence in “pursuing­ justice for older Our Firm’s Princeton office, which in 2018 was named The and vulnerable people.”­ Under Kathy’s leadership, Blank American Lawyer’s Regional Litigation Department of the Rome has been proud to partner with the SeniorLAW Center Year and Law360’s New Jersey Powerhouse, maintained its for many years on numerous, ongoing pro bono clinics and strong commitment to pro bono last year through impactful projects. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of women’s work on significant pro bono civil rights cases. p right to vote, the SeniorLaw Center, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit serving senior citizens throughout Pennsylvania, selected six deserving women advocates Nationalities Service Center clients at Blank Rome’s as Champions of Justice. #TakeActionPhilly Adjustment of Status Legal Clinic. “ You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

I H D N A G A TM MAHA

2 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 27 • • • • • Pro Bono Team • • • • • A Note from Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Committee Chair PRO BONO LEADERSHIP For nearly 75 years, Blank Rome’s core values of respect for the individual, the community, and the law have continued to inspire our Firm’s deep commitment to pro bono service. Blank Rome proudly promotes pro bono activities through meaningful legal clinics and initiatives, our longstanding­ pro bono partnerships, and our Firm’s formal pro bono policy that requires each of our attorneys and paralegals to provide at least 25 hours of pro bono service every year, with a goal of 65 hours encouraged.

Barry Abrams Kathy E. Ochroch Krystal Kane In 2019, our Firm hosted and staffed more than 50 pro Although there is no simple solution for these complicated bono clinics and served more than 1,000 pro bono clients, issues, our Firm is proud to promote many remote projects PRO BONO COMMITTEES which translates into more than 32,000 hours of pro bono addressing the challenges presented by COVID-19, including service across all our offices. We are proud of this achieve- clinics assisting small businesses, eviction prevention, and FIRM-WIDE: Barry Abrams, Chair • Lawrence J. Beaser • Cheryl S. Chang • Amy Joseph Coles • ment, which earned our Firm a high ranking in The American unemployment benefits. We have also formed pro bono Alan M. Freeman • John E. Heintz • Krystal Kane • Jeremy A. Herschaft • Adam E. Laver • Lawyer’s annual Pro Bono Rankings Survey as one of the top working groups addressing the issues faced by our commu- Kathy E. Ochroch • Paige Barr Tinkham • Nicole R. Topper • Jared Zola • David A. Dorey • 25 firms nationwide for breadth of pro bono performance. nities of color, including discrimination and civil rights cases, Michael J. Feinman ­systemic injustices in the criminal justice system, and more. Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Report highlights various pro bono We are confident that, through collective action, we can work cases, clinics, and projects that our attorneys worked on last together to attack some of the effects of this pandemic and HOUSTON: Domingo M. Llagostera, Chair • Barry Abrams • Jeremy A. Herschaft • Munira Jesani • year, which provided equal access to legal representation move our country toward greater justice and equality. Marquel S. Jordan • Keith B. Letourneau • Zachary J. Wyatte • Susan L. Bickley, Ex-Officio for some of the neediest in our community. In particular, we LOS ANGELES: Dennis M.P. Ehling, Chair • Cheryl S. Chang • Shadi Enos Jahangir • Jessica A. McElroy discuss our significant work on behalf of immigrants, LGBTQ+ I am honored to help lead these important pro bono initia- individuals, persons facing homelessness, veterans, senior tives, alongside Kathy E. Ochroch, Partner and Director of citizens, and small business owners and nonprofits. Pro Bono Services, , Pro Bono Attorney, and our NEW YORK: Inbal Paz Garrity, Co-Chair • Evan Zucker, Co-Chair • Beth Bernstein Connors • Alexandra Clark • Krystal Kane Firm-wide and office Pro Bono Committee members. Blank Thomas A. Cournoyer • Morgan Fraser Mouchette • Noe S. Hamra • Elena P. Jacque • Martin S. Krezalek • The increasing need for pro bono service to address the many Rome is very proud of our attorneys and professional staff, Michael C. Lupton • Ernestine J. Mings • Brett S. Ward • Jared Zola • Michael J. Feinman, Ex-Officio injustices that individuals and families in our community whose pro bono efforts exemplify our Firm’s devotion to experience each day is more important now than ever before. bettering our community and the legal profession. PHILADELPHIA: Carol A. Gershon, Co-Chair • Michael P. Trainor, Co-Chair • Asima J. Ahmad • Samar Aryani-Sabet • During the last seven months, our country has been deeply Dalila J. Berry • Bridget Mayer Briggs • Bradford C. Craig • Molly Crane • Heidi G. Crikelair • impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has fundamen- To learn more about Blank Rome’s pro bono initiatives, please William R. Cruse • Krystal Kane • Adam E. Laver • Joel Michel • Rachel A. Packer • Michelle Piscopo • tally changed the way we work and live. Additionally, current visit blankrome.com/pro-bono. We hope that you enjoy this James J. Quinlan • Jeffrey M. Rosenfeld • Jeffrey N. Rosenthal • Joshua L. Strober events have sparked rightful outrage regarding the racial report and we welcome your feedback. p inequity and injustice faced by Black Americans and people of PITTSBURGH: Edwin L. Edwards Jr., Chair • Jill Lipman Beck • Maria E. Carnicella • Amy Joseph Coles • color every day. Jayme L. Butcher, Ex-Officio Barry Abrams, WASHINGTON: Adrien C. Pickard, Chair • Kyle P. Brinkman • Kierstan L. Carlson • Carolyn Cody-Jones • John E. Heintz • Emma C. Jones • Albert B. Krachman • Tara Laster Marcus • Victoria Ortega • Stefanos N. Roulakis • Alan M. Freeman, Ex-Officio• Ariel S. Glasner, Ex-Officio

WILMINGTON: Tori A. Guilfoyle, Chair • Bryan J. Hall • Adam V. Orlacchio • David A. Dorey, Ex-Officio Partner and Chair of Blank Rome’s Firm-wide Pro Bono Committee The Pro Bono Committees listed above reflect our current committee members. Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Leadership Team thanks the 2019 committees for their dedicated pro bono service.

28 • PRO BONO REPORT PRO BONO REPORT • 1 CONTENTS

A Note from Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Committee Chair...... 1 SEEKING JUSTICE FOR ALL Supporting Immigrants in Our Communities...... 2 Blank Rome is proud of our deep tradition of pro bono service, which traces its roots to one of Advocating for LGBTQ+ Equality...... 4 our Firm’s founding partners, Edwin P. Rome.

Preserving Housing and Supporting the Homeless...... 7 For nearly 75 years, Blank Rome’s core values of respect for the individual, the community, and the law have driven and inspired our leadership in pro bono and community activities. Obtaining Military Discharge Upgrades and Benefits for Veterans...... 8 Pro bono service is encouraged and supported across our Firm through training, mentoring, Helping Low-Income Seniors Gain Access to Justice...... 10 and promoting a culture that recognizes the importance of ensuring that everyone has equal access to legal representation. Advancing Small Businesses and Nonprofits through Legal Services...... 12

2019 Pro Bono Year in Review...... 14 Blank Rome has a formal pro bono policy that requires each of our attorneys and paralegals to undertake at least 25 hours of pro bono service every year, with 65 hours encouraged. To Our Pro Bono Partners...... 15 help our attorneys and paralegals achieve this goal, they receive assistance with identifying pro bono opportunities that will be meaningful to them as well as appropriate training and Pro Bono Honors and Awards...... 16 resources to support their endeavors. Pro Bono Honor Roll...... 24

A Look Ahead...... 25

Pro Bono Team...... 28

Seeking Justice for All...... 29

PRO BONO REPORT • 29 PRO BONO REPORT 2019–2020

Chicago • Cincinnati • Fort Lauderdale • Houston • Los Angeles • New York • Philadelphia Pittsburgh • Princeton • San Francisco • Shanghai • Tampa • Washington • Wilmington

blankrome.com/pro-bono

Attorney advertising. ©2020 Blank Rome LLP. All rights reserved. Please contact Blank Rome for permission to reprint. Notice: The purpose of this update is to identify select developments that may be of interest to readers. The informa­tion contained herein is abridged and summarized from various sources, the accuracy and completeness of which cannot be assured. This update should not be construed as legal advice or opinion, and is not a substitute for the advice of counsel.