Global Social Impact 2013 Report a Note from Our Global CEO and Global Chair
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dentons.com Global Social Impact 2013 Report A Note from our Global CEO and Global Chair social issues with impact litigation on There are many instances when behalf of vulnerable social groups. lending a helping hand can make all We increase access to justice by the difference. In equal measure, we representing individuals in court leverage our charitable contributions who would not otherwise have to advance important causes and to the means to bring their case. We tackle issues of social mobility. And empower individuals faced with as a community-focused firm, we adversity by equipping them with take very seriously our obligation to Elliott Portnoy, Joe Andrew, legal knowledge and effective tools of advance environmental sustainability. Global Chief Global Chair conflict resolution. And we help social Our work on the environment matches Executive Officer entrepreneurs and NGOs further their our experience in energy and climate missions to assist low-income families change law, and aligns our clients’ As a truly polycentric global law firm, and marginalized communities. The interests with our own. Dentons has an inspiring tradition of bottom line is that at Dentons, we are giving back to the communities in committed to justice that lies at the By serving the public good, we translate which we work and live. Our Global heart of the legal profession. our values into action. At Dentons, Social Impact program matches we always aim to make an important our strengths and the experience Our voluntary work and charitable impact, no matter who we are serving: of our lawyers with the needs of contributions are designed to our clients, our communities or the our communities. We tackle major compliment our pro bono initiatives. valued members of our firm. A Note from our Pro Bono Partner “How can we forefront of providing meaningful pro Outward Bound Oman provide badly help?” That bono assistance to individuals and needed opportunities to deprived question is at communities in need. We are helping communities. And we are using our the heart of the maintain the constitutional Rule of extensive legal skills on behalf of Global Social Law in Poland. We’re providing direct classes of disabled individuals in the Impact program legal aid to low-income individuals in United States who have been denied at Dentons. And award-winning clinics in London and equal rights under law. although the firm Milton Keynes. We helped establish a is still very new, cutting-edge tax assistance project From every corner of the globe, Ben Weinberg, Pro Bono Partner our dedication to in Canada, for which we’ve received Dentons lawyers, professionals and the communities great recognition. We are doing staff are asking how we can help, in which we live and work is literally important climate change work in and then stepping up and providing centuries old. Asia and the United States. the leadership necessary to create a positive social impact. As you’ll see in our inaugural Global Across the globe, we are helping Social Impact Report, Dentons social entrepreneurs and non- lawyers and professionals are at the governmental organizations like dentons.com/en/socialimpact 2 Contents Pro Bono Legal Service 4 5 Tax Court of Canada Advocacy Project 5 Community Action: Milton Keynes 6 Shakhnes et. al. v. Eggleston et. al. 7 Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights 7 PopLaw Legal Advice Clinic 8 Ligas v. Hamos 8 Supporting Legal Service Organizations in Canada 9 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Pro Bono Legal Clinic Serving Our Communities 10 11 St. Petersburg State Academic Capella 11 UNICEF Partnership 12 New York Says Thank You 13 Campaign for Female Education 13 Uniterra Leave for Change 14 City Gateway 14 Legacy Charter School 15 Outward Bound Oman 16 J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge 2012 16 Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition 16 Internationally Trained Professional Programs Environmental Law, Climate Change 17 and Sustainable Operations 18 REDD+ Project Cambodia 19 Emirates Wildlife Society 19 New York City Energy Eiciency Corporation Project 20 LEED Gold Certiication—Climate Smart 20 ISO 14001 Certiication Clean City Platinum Award More About Our Global 21 Social Impact program 22 Global Pro Bono Committee 23 Dentons’ Partnerships 25 Dentons’ Accolades dentons.com/en/socialimpactdentons.com/en/socialimpact 3 Pro Bono Legal Service At Dentons, we consider it our social responsibility as lawyers to provide access to justice to some of the most vulnerable members of society. In designing pro bono projects, we are first and foremost concerned with the impact our work has on the unmet legal needs of our local communities. Dentons provides pro bono assistance on many levels, including one-on- one legal counsel, class action lawsuits brought on behalf of a group of individuals, and legal clinics in partnership with legal service organizations. This diverse approach makes our pro bono program unique and enables our lawyers to live up to their social responsibility. dentons.com/en/socialimpact 4 Tax Court of Canada Advocacy Project Dentons Toronto and Dentons Montréal Currently in its third year, Dentons, in partnership with Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC), is leading a pro bono advocacy project through which current law students represent low- income individuals before the Tax Court of Canada (TCC). The first law firm initiative of its kind in Canada, the program enables law students, under the careful guidance and mentorship of Dentons tax litigators, to gain practical experience in representing individual tax payers before the TCC. The project was initially developed at the suggestion of the current Chief From left to right: participating law students Evelyn E. Dormer and Denise Cooney. Justice of the TCC, The Honorable Gerald J. Rip, in response to the participating law students chosen from their work before the TCC. Our legal significant number of unrepresented the Université de Montréal, Université professionals also provide training with appellants appearing before the de Sherbrooke, and McGill University. regard to advocacy technique and Court: between 2008 and 2012, Ultimately, the aim is to replicate this issues of professional responsibility. nearly 5,000 appeals were filed by unique student-led project in other self-represented taxpayers appealing major Canadian cities over the course income tax assessments. of the coming years. External In the 2011-2012 academic year, In support of this program, experienced Recognition: Dentons Toronto piloted the project Dentons tax lawyers—including with an initial group of six University Donald G.H. Bowman, Q.C., an award- of Toronto law students, who were winning tax litigator and the former 2011 Lexpert Zenith Award: Law Firm carefully selected after a competitive Chief Justice of the TCC—lead tax Contribution to Education 2011 application process. In 2012-2013, we law training sessions and mentorship University of Toronto Arbor Award: expanded the reach of the program events on a pro bono basis to help Counsel David E. Spiro to include the city of Montréal, with prepare participating law students for Community Action: Milton Keynes Dentons Milton Keynes Working with our community partner, bono counsel to Milton Keynes SNAP, profile individuals to take action on Community Action: Milton Keynes, a local charity that supports people humanitarian and environmental Dentons provides free legal advice (mainly young adults) with a range causes; and many other local and to community groups in the Milton of physical and learning difficulties; national organizations. Dentons Milton Keynes area at a monthly legal Help for Heroes, an organization that Keynes also supports groups of young advice clinic. In the first year of its supports injured servicemen and people in the local community via a operation, the clinic provided more women returning from Afghanistan literacy program at a local primary than 150 hours of free legal advice to and Iraq; Wavendon Allmusic Plan, school and also through a partnership community groups in the local area, a music charity affiliated with The with Worktree, an education charity in earning a place on LawWorks’ short- Stables music venue in Milton Keynes; preparing young people for the world list for its pro bono award. Additionally, the 21st Century Leaders Foundation, of work. the office provides much-needed pro which encourages influential, high- dentons.com/en/socialimpact 5 Shakhnes et. al. v. Eggleston et. al. Dentons New York In August 2013, a Dentons New months before her evidentiary hearing ruling: “Just as justice delayed is justice York Litigation team led by Partner was even scheduled. denied, so too is action delayed action Sandra Hauser achieved a pro bono denied.” victory against the New York State Ms. Hauser, along with co-counsel Department of Health and the State’s at the New York Legal Assistance The pro bono Dentons team continued Office of Temporary and Disability Group (NYLAG), led a pro bono team to work extensively on the case, Assistance (OTDA), on behalf of a on behalf of the Plaintiffs, who were defending one of the core rulings of citywide class of needy individuals who individuals requiring critical home the District Court against an appeal in rely on Medicaid-funded home health health services such as eating, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals services. The case, Shakhnes et. al. v. ambulating, turning over in bed and against the State’s Petition for Eggleston et. al., had been ongoing or reaching their doctors’ offices. Certiorari to the US Supreme Court since the initial 2006 class action The team argued that New York claiming that Plaintiffs lacked the complaint was filed in the US District systemically and unlawfully violated right to sue. The case finally closed Court of the Southern District of federal statutes and regulations that victoriously in August 2013, with an New York. require resolution of appeals from award to Plaintiffs’ counsel of US$1.75 adverse determinations within 90 million in attorneys’ fees and costs Boris Shakhnes, the lead Named days after those appeals are made.