Thank you letter from St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance for DLA Piper's support
On November 25, 2008, Terry Shannon, President & CEO of St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance sent Bill Rudnick the following thank-you letter thanking the firm's Phoenix office, and Associate Kate Frenzinger in particular, for its contributions to the organization's mission.

Firm Active Participant in Ensuring Voting Rights During Crucial Election Year
Partnering with the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, DLA Piper offices nationwide have hosted Election Protection programs for the various primary elections in 2008.  Eric Marshall of the Lawyer's Committee expressed his gratitude:  “DLA Piper has played an invaluable role in the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s leadership in Election Protection – the nation’s largest nonpartisan voter protection program. During the February 5th, February 12th, March 4th, and April 22nd primaries, Election Protection has recruited and trained almost 1600 legal volunteers, and the 1-866-OUR-VOTE hotline has answered more than 6,000 calls in eight call centers across the country. The coalition has provided support to voters and grassroots organizations to help break down barriers to the ballot box for voters across the country. DLA Piper has been there every step of the way providing valuable leadership, hosting call centers, recruiting and training volunteers, promoting the hotline, producing legal materials, and offering any assistance the Lawyers’ Committee asked for."

Gratitude for Firm Role in Environmental Issues
On November 12, 2007, Lewis Gordon, Director of the Environmental Defender Law Center, sent a thank-you letter to the firm in appreciation for the critical oversight and advice DLA Piper provided to two nongovernmental organizations: an indigenous land claims project in Mexico and Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai’s Green Belt Movement.

The Tarahumara indigenous community of Choreachi, located near the Copper Canyon, have a pending case before the Mexican Agrarian Tribunal to fight illegal logging and also obtain a title to their lands. DLA attorneys helped write a report essential to their case based on international human rights law and “special protections” for indigenous peoples under the laws of other countries in the Americas. This report will hopefully become a model for other indigenous communities that may present similar cases before the Tribunal.

The Greenbelt Movement, founded in 2004 by Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, is a community empowerment and development movement that uses tree planting as its initial focal point. Led by and comprised of mostly women, the Greenbelt Movement emphasizes the vital link between democracy, environment, and peace. DLA Piper attorneys have provided guidance and oversight to the Greenbelt Movement in contractual transactions and policy development initiatives both in the U.S. and internationally.

Appreciation for DLA Piper’s participation in Food Awareness Week Fundraiser

In a letter dated July 3, 2007, Lynn Brantley, President and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank, expressed her gratitude to Margot Finn of the Washington D.C. office, for the fundraising and food donation initiative. Over $16,000 and 1,000 pounds of food were donated to the Capital Area Food Bank. The D.C. office also was presented with a Certificate of Commendation in recognition of our many years of service to the CAFB.

Thank you letters from elementary school students

Students from Bethune Elementary School sent many letters in early June expressing thanks for the opportunity to participate in a unique educational simulation. The firm and its corporate client, Transwestern, sponsored 90 fifth and sixth graders. After two months of classroom training the students spent a full day at Exchange City in the Experiencia Learning Center where they learned about real-life careers in business, government, and science by assuming the different roles required to run a city such as mayor, police officer, city attorney, web page designer, and sports shop owner.

Gratitude for mediation services

Amy Schulman (New York) served as a mediator in a dispute over printing presses. In reporting the results to the Federal District Court, Daniel Gielchinsky, an attorney for one of the parties, wrote to the court:

The parties attended a mediation session at Counselor Schulman’s offices on June 11, 2007, and the case was resolved that day with her able assistance. All of the parties and counsel were very impressed with Counselor Schulman’s very quick grasp of the issues and her sensitivity to the parties’ respective motivations. We are most grateful to Counselor Schulman for donating her time and expertise to bringing closure to what had been a difficult matter, and appreciative that the Court afforded us the opportunity to avail ourselves of the mediation program.

When entering this letter on the docket, Magistrate Judge Roanne Mann added a handwritten note of thanks to Amy.

Victim of Hurricane Katrina thanks Joy Napier-Joyce for Representation

A victim of Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi wrote a heartfelt thank you letter and sent a gift to Joy Napier-Joyce for representing her in appealing FEMA’s denial of her medical claim. The gift was an “angel of grace” – a work of art painted on a rock that was recovered from a bridge in Biloxi, Mississippi, destroyed in the storm. Click here to see the angel.

Part of the letter reads, “I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart. I lost everything in the storm and have been rebuilding my life ever since…you have definitely been an angel in my life.”

Appreciation for Partnering Efforts

On June 13, 2007, Legal Services for New York (LSNY), a partner in the Access to Education Project, honored DLA Piper as a Pro Bono Champion in recognition of the office’s role in helping LSNY provide “high quality free civil legal services to low-income people throughout New York City.”

Partnership in the Fight Against Hunger

On April 27, 2007, the Capital Area Food Bank presented William Minor with the 2007 Martin Luther King, Jr. Keeping the Dream Alive Award for “making a meaningful difference to help end hunger in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.” Lynn Brantley, President and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank also thanked the office for its assistance and role in “drastically increase[ing]” the organization’s service to the area.

Gratitude from Whitman Walker Clinic

In a letter dated June 22, 2007, the Whitman-Walker Clinic thanked Reginald E. Jones for his work helping an HIV-positive client, who was also battling depression, stay in the workplace.

Thank you from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

On June 21, 2007, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent letters to 11 DLA Piper attorneys and paralegals in New York, Tampa, and Seattle expressing gratitude for their work on international parental child abduction cases. In addition to the letter of gratitude, recipients also obtained an Award of Merit from the NCMEX.

Gratitude from the Capital Area Food Bank

In a letter dated April 17, 2007, President and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank Lynn Brantley thanked William Minor for helping the Food Bank to secure $3 million of federal support.  To recognize his dedication to the Food Bank, the letter announces William's selection as the recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Making a Difference Award.

Central City Association Thanks John Whitaker

The Central City Association (CCA) in its April 6 newsletter thanks John Whitaker (Los Angeles) for his representation of the organization in its efforts to pass the "Transfer of Floor Area Ratio" (TFAR) ordinance, which will allow greater residential density in downtown Los Angeles and provide benefits to the Downtown community, according to CCA. Specifically, the ordinance streamlines the transfer process for residential developers and implements a feasible public benefit payment formula for residential and commercial development in the downtown community. CCA, which represents more than 450 businesses, trade associations, and nonprofits employing more than 300,000 people in Los Angeles County, is the leading architect of the downtown renaissance and has been leading the effort to update TFAR for two years.


Kosovar Ministry of Justice Commends Sara Andrews

Mule Desku, Permanent Secretary of Kosovo’s Ministry of Justice (MOJ) sent a letter of gratitude to Sheldon Krantz, head of New Perimeter, on March 28, 2007. The Secretary commends Sara Andrews for her work with the MOJ as part of DLA Piper’s New Perimeter Kosovo Law Reform project.

Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project Thanks DLA Piper

The Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project sent a letter on March 10, 2007, to Pro Bono Manager Roberta Ritvo, thanking DLA Piper for providing legal assistance to Hurricane Katrina victims in Mississippi. At the time the letter was sent, DLA Piper had assisted almost twice the number of Katrina clients as any other firm. An excerpt of the letter reads:

“You and DLA Piper are a model for the profession, locally and across the country. We hope your spirit of generosity and sense of responsibility to help will inspire many more to rise to your high standards.”


The Brotherhood/Sister Sol Expresses Gratitude

The Brotherhood/Sister Sol sent a letter on March 8, 2007 to Robert Koen (New York), expressing gratitude for DLA Piper’s assistance in enabling the organization to significantly expand its physical capacity, “ensuring the long-term stability of our organization and securing the space to expand and thus to better serve our existing members and future children in our community.” Click here to read the entire letter.


Gratitude from Equal Justice Works

David Stern, CEO of Equal Justice Works, sent Pro Bono Manager Anne Geraghty a letter on March 6, 2007, giving special thanks to Lea Weems, DLA Piper's Equal Justice Works Fellow. Lea works with the Legal Assistance Foundation as part of her fellowship. He also expressed gratitude for the efforts of the Equal Justice Works Steering Committee, of which Partner Amy Schulman is a member.


Thanks from The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law sent a letter and plaque to John McKeever and Roberta Ritvo, thanking them for leading a team of lawyers and staff for an Election Protection project in 2006. Attorneys drafted election manuals, and staffed the polls as well as a hotline for voters to call when they experienced difficulties or problems at their voting sites.


Partnership for Public Service Commendation

On January 31, 2007, the Partnership for Public Service commended Kim Pagotto for her “sterling work” as pro bono counsel to the organization.

A Client's Gratitude

In August 2006, Steve Barentzen received an e-mail of gratitude from his client, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, after moving to quash a subpoena with which Dr. Ashrawi was served while attending a fund raising event in the U.S. Dr. Ashrawi is a prominent scholar, political activist and member of the Palestinian Legislature.


Gratitude from Access Montgomery

In a letter to Partner Jay Westermeier dated January 12, 2007, Access Montgomery expressed its appreciation of his presentation on copyrights at its Creative Connections meeting. Part of the letter reads: “We very much appreciate your generosity in sharing not only your expertise, but your time as well.” Please click here to read the entire letter.


Thanks from Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.

The Atlanta Legal Aid Society sent Pro Bono Coordinator Amy Quackenboss a letter on January 4, 2007, thanking her for the Atlanta office’s donation and delivery of gifts through its Grandparent/Relative Caregiver Project for the holidays. Please click here to see a photo of the volunteers.



Capital Area Food Bank Thank You

The Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. offices received a big thank you from Ron Wise in his final days as Director of Food Development at the Capital Area Food Bank.  His May 19, 2006 email read:

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all at DLA Piper for always being there to help the community here at the food bank! As always, the group was extremely motivated, and it was a pleasure to have such a well organized team here.

The quantity of food that was sorted on the evening of the 17th was impressive. The group processed a total of 12,565 pounds of non-perishable food that will be used by the 753 non-profits in the Metro Washington Area that we support.

To put this into perspective, each pound of food that the food bank is able to send out feeds one person.  DLA Piper helped provide food to over 12,000 people (senior citizens and children particularly), who are in need during your time spent here. 

The food bank considers DLA Piper as one of our premier supporters in the efforts to elevate hunger in the community. You are my favorite group to work with, and while I am leaving the position as director, I hope that we will work together in the future." 

Click here to read a 2005 letter from the Capital Area Food Bank. 

Northern California Urban Development Corporation

Mary Lavigne-Butler (East Palo Alto) received this March 15, 2006 letter from John Liotti, President and CEO of the Northern California Urban Development Corporation. The firm agreed to assist NCUDC, a nonprofit dedicated to creating economic opportunities for disadvantaged members of the East Palo Alto Community, in its efforts to develop a credit union. We anticipate providing assistance with non-banking needs, including real estate, tax, employment, contract, and corporate governance matters. Current client Stanford Federal Credit Union helped match the firm with NCUDC.

"I wanted to take a moment and say “thanks” for working with us to establish a relationship with your firm. Honestly, the notification I received from DLA [accepting us as a client] was a huge bright spot for us! I feel honored to have you guys cheering us on.

Please express my thanks to the pro bono committee and the leadership and partners. Let us know how we can serve you."

Real Estate Deal Helps Provide Supportive Housing

In a nice valentine to the firm, Bill Kelly, President of Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future, thanked the firm for its part in a real estate deal for client Mercy Housing. Mercy Housing is a national, nonprofit housing organization that develops and manages affordable, program-enriched housing and provides a variety of social services for low-income individuals and families in 41 states. Lakefront Supportive Housing is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that owns and manages 1,000 units of housing for families that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The acquisition will expand Mercy’s presence in the Midwest and utilize Mercy’s greater financial resources and geographic reach to create additional supportive housing using the Lakefront model around the country. The team was led by Elizabeth Friedgut and included Renee Schoenberg, Karl Ahlm, Erica Sitkoff, and Marianne Raimondi (all Chicago). The firm was introduced to SAHF by Appleseed, another organization with which the firm works closely on a number of pro bono projects. Bill’s February 14, 2006 email stated:

"Mercy Housing’s acquisition of Lakefront Housing in Chicago has now closed, very much as a result of the extraordinary pro bono work done by Liz Friedgut and her team, which included Renee Schoenberg and Carl Ahlm on the corporate side and Erica Sitkoff and Maryanne Raimondi on the real estate side. I am writing simply to offer SAHF’s thanks, Mercy’s thanks, and my personal thanks for all that the firm and the Chicago team have accomplished.

Mercy now has the expertise it sought in developing and managing special needs housing and a strong, strategic base in Chicago. What Lakefront has pioneered can now be spread, using Mercy’s national platform and resources.

Many nonprofit groups are too small to be effective and efficient. In the field of affordable housing, there must be consolidation if costs are to be controlled and sponsors are to be able to serve more of the low-income public. This acquisition will show the way.

All too often, pro bono work has been handled only in the time left after tending to paying clients. Here, it was obvious; the team had no higher priority.

Thank you all very much."

District of Columbia Access to Justice Commission

Since 2005, DLA Piper attorneys have been providing pro bono legal assistance to the District of Columbia Access to Justice Commission.  Below is an excerpt from a letter of appreciation sent by the Commission's Chairman, Peter Edelman:

"...We could not have engaged in the depth or breadth of our work without your law firm's support.  DLA Piper Rudnick lawyers have been with us every step of the way in providing the assistance we need, whether it involves researching a legal issue or providing space to host a Commission-sponsored event."

Click here to read the entire letter.

 
Gratitude from a woman seeking political asylum in the United States

Catherine Benson (Baltimore) assisted a client who spoke out about corruption in the judiciary system in her home country in Latin America obtain asylum.  Read the letter.


Gratitude from Candlelighters

The co-presidents and executive director of Candlelighters sent a letter of thanks and appreciation for the work of Scott McIntosh (Washington, D.C.) in February 2006.  Below is an excerpt:

"On behalf of Candlelighters, we would like to share our appreciation regarding the excellent representation your department provided our organization from Scott McIntosh.  Over much of the past year, Mr. McIntosh has worked tirelessly to resolve a complicated, contentious situation that our organization had with one of our affiliates.  Mr. McIntosh not only represented our organization wtih professionalism, patience, and a thorough understanding of the matter, he was able to achieve the best possible outcome for everyone involved."

Click here to read the entire letter.

City Harvest Thanks the Firm in its Newsletter

City Harvest, a food rescue organization in New York City, printed the following thank you to the firm in the January 26, 2006 issue of Fresh News, the e-mail newsletter sent to its members:

"A Shining Example

DLA Piper LLP (US) took to the streets last year, collecting more than 2,600 pounds of food on their Street Fleet route. Nineteen DLA Piper employees shared a route, picking up donations of 20 pounds or less from a local Starbucks and walking them on foot to St. Paul’s, a nearby agency. DLA Piper’s employees are so enthusiastic about the program that they’re adding several employees to the team in 2006 and expanding their food rescue efforts to include two additional Starbucks locations. Thank you to DLA Piper’s extraordinary employees for working so hard to help fight hunger in their community."

The Mississippi Lawyer Thanks San Diego Attorneys

In the Winter 2005-2006 issue of The Mississippi Lawyer, the firm was thanked by Amanda K. Jones, Young Lawyers Division President, for being part of the response team helping residents of Mississippi affected by Hurricane Katrina. Under the leadership of Julie Hussey (San Diego—Downtown), 21 San Diego attorneys provided assistance, leading our firm to becoming the preferred provider for people facing emergency evictions. The Mississippi Lawyer also printed the names of all of the volunteers.

Assisting a Nonprofit that Helps People Purchase Homes

Michael Vhay and Traci Feit (Boston) received this January 10, 2006 letter of thanks from Joseph Herren, President of Shelter Solutions. Shelter Solutions is a nonprofit organization that helps individuals with poor credit, but who can afford monthly mortgage payments, to become homeowners. Shelter Solutions enters into agreements with such individuals that allow them to live in the homes and work to own them by making timely monthly payments.

When one Shelter Solutions client (Mr. and Mrs. D.) stopped making mortgage payments, the mortgagee foreclosed and the home was sold. As the home’s value had increased, the foreclosure left excess proceeds. In an attempt to secure the excess proceeds for themselves, Mr. and Mrs. D. brought a baseless suit against Shelter Solutions. Traci and Michael litigated the case to a settlement favorable to Shelter Solutions.

"Please accept the appreciation of this organization for your Pro Bono services in the captioned matter..."

Click here to read the entire letter.

Kids in Court Thank You from Chief Judge Marshall

Yvette Neukian received this January 4, 2006, letter from then Chief Judge Consuelo B. Marshall, United States District Court, thanking her and the firm for the Kids in Court program. The program was led by Yvette, David Grenardo, Ryan Leaderman, and Jennifer Nassiri:

"Thank you for your contribution to the success of the Kids in Court Art Contest. It was a pleasure to host students from Gratts and Normandie elementary schools in my courtroom and to participate in this meaningful community outreach program. Both awards ceremonies were clearly the product of much hard work by you and your colleagues.

Through your work on the Kids in Court program, you have benefited the community, the Court, and the legal profession. I hope that you found this experience to be rewarding and that you will continue to take an interest in opportunities for service to the Central District."

 

Homeless Court Volunteers Thanked

Louis Rafti of the Homelessness Prevention Law Project at Public Counsel sent the following letter on December 9, 2005, regarding the work performed by attorneys and a paralegal in Los Angeles:

"Thank you for the participation of DLA Piper's attorneys in making Homeless Court a great success yesterday. Importantly, yesterday’s Homeless Court session, which was presided over by Judge Michael Tynan, hosted over 30 participants and cleared over 100 cases. More importantly, the attorneys from Piper Rudnick helped formerly homeless persons overcome their most formidable barrier to successful rehabilitation—unresolved legal issues in the form of open warrants and fines resulting there from, and empowered the persons they appeared with a positive impression of our legal system.

Thank you again, and please extend my personal thanks to Betty Shumener, Bob Barton, Ann Miller, Selby Jessup, Joni Templeton, and Yen Nguyen for the great work they did yesterday and for reaching out to the less fortunate members of our community."

Court Commendation to Nancy Rappaport

The Honorable Anne E. Lazarus, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, sent the following to Bill Kiniry, managing partner of the Philadelphia office:

I want to commend you for making pro bono a priority at your firm. Everyone benefits when highly qualified, competent attorneys such as Ms. Rappaport volunteer their time and effort in the representation of those who would otherwise be unable to afford counsel.

Click here to read the entire letter.

Court Commendation to Luci Bach

In a final order granting guardianship, Washington, DC Superior Court Magistrate Judge Juliet J. McKenna included the following footnote:

"The court wishes to commend the extensive and quality work of both Lucinda Bach with the law firm of Piper Rudnick, counsel for the petitioners, and Keely Magyar with Lawyers for Children America, guardian ad litem. Both Ms. Bach and Ms. Magyar appeared pro bono in these matters and invested countless hours in order to finalize guardianship in the best interests of the ... children."

When Luci accepted this case from the Children’s Law Center, it was billed as a straightforward matter. After taking it to trial over one year later, Luci was successful in gaining guardianship of three sisters by their grandmother and her husband. For her work on this case, Luci was awarded the DC Office Pro Bono Partner of the Year 2004 award in April 2005.

CEO Praises Michael Santa Maria

In a December 3, 2004 e-mail to Bill Rudnick, member of the board of directors of America’s Second Harvest, Jan Pruitt, CEO of the North Texas Food Bank (an affiliated organization), praised Michael Santa Maria, NTFB’s new outside general counsel, and thanked the firm in general:

"I just wanted to take a moment to say Thank You to you and Piper Rudnick. Without your involvement with America’s Second Harvest and your encouragement of local Piper Rudnick offices to become involved with local Food Banks - things would be drastically different!"

Federal District Judge Commends Service to D.C. Department of Corrections

Federal Judge Royce C. Lamberth commended the work done by the firm for the DC Department of Corrections pursuant to a consent order that Judge Lamberth oversees. Attorneys from the DC office taught sexual harassment classes to DOC employees beginning in 2002. The classes were mandated in a consent decree stemming from a class action lawsuit brought by employees of the jail. The firm represented the plaintiffs pro bono. The November 23, 2004 letter read in part:

"I am unaware of any other law firm that, after litigating against a government agency - or any other employer - has then gone on to assist that employer in fulfilling its obligations under a Consent Decree. Piper Rudnick’s sustained pro bono commitment to helping the Department of Corrections is worthy of the highest commendation, and is in the keeping with the sterling reputation you and your firm have established with this Court."

Click here to read the entire letter.

NAACP Recognition

In November 2004, Piper Rudnick received a letter of special gratitude from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for the significant time and effort the firm contributed to the NAACP’s litigation of a discrimination claim against a national restaurant chain. The letter, from the NAACP General Counsel, read in part:

"One of my most esteemed predecessors in this office, Charles Hamilton Houston, was prone to say that “[a] lawyer’s either a social engineer ... or a parasite on society.” We are delighted to count you among the many social engineers."

Click here to read the entire letter.

Natick Housing Corporation Thank You

Michael Vhay (Boston) received special thanks in November 2004 from the Natick Housing Corporation for his pro bono work (on an emergency basis, over a holiday weekend) in recovering loan money, thus allowing the organization to use those funds to make housing available to people with low and moderate incomes. The letter closed:

"Through the generosity of professionals like you and your firm, we are able to sustain our organization and continue to help people with low to moderate incomes attain home ownership in Natick. Your services were of great value to us and very much appreciated."

Click here to read the entire letter.

National Women’s Law Center Gratitude

The firm received a September 28, 2004 letter from the National Women’s Law Center:

"On behalf of the National Women’s Law Center, we would like to express our deep gratitude to Piper Rudnick for its generous pro bono assistance to the Center’s Education and Employment group on a variety of projects. As you know, several of the firm’s attorneys have graciously donated their skills to help the Center with its work on behalf of women and girls, most recently by advocating for equal treatment of girls in local high school athletics programs. This type of assistance is invaluable to our work of fighting discrimination on the basis of sex."

Click here to read the entire letter.