Speaking Engagements and Pro Bono Recognition
On September 18, 2008, Troutman Sanders LLP received the 2008 Metro Atlanta Corporate Volunteer Council Emerging Program Award for its joint pro bono initiative with Bank of America, Grady Health System's Cancer Center for Excellence and Atlanta Legal Aid Society. This Award recognizes a new Employee Volunteer Program, less than 18 months old, that has achieved significant results. Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Troutman Sanders' nonprofit partner, was designated to receive the accompanying financial award. The judging process was completely blind (no company names were mentioned in the application) and judges were volunteer leaders outside of Georgia. The application was judged purely by the merits of the program and substance.
Brady Mills received the 2008 Thurgood Marshall Award for Capital Representation from the New York City Bar for his representation in a death penalty case
In June 2008, The State Bar of Georgia honored Troutman Sanders LLP with its William B. Spann Jr. Award for the firm’s ongoing pro bono work with Atlanta Legal Aid and the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. The William B. Spann Jr. Award is given yearly by the State Bar of Georgia Access to Justice Committee and the Pro Bono Project to a local bar association, law firm project or community organization in Georgia that, according to the State Bar, “has created a pro bono program that has satisfied previously unmet needs or extended services to underserved segments of the population.” The award is named in honor of a former president of the American Bar Association and former executive director of the State Bar of Georgia. Troutman Sanders received the 2008 award based on its many pro bono efforts over the years for Atlanta Legal Aid and the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. In particular, the firm was singled out for its assistance with the statewide Georgia Senior Legal Hotline, drafting Miller Trusts for low income residents facing loss of Medicaid benefits, assisting low income individuals with evictions in Fulton County, and drafting wills for needy individuals in the Breast Cancer Project, “Wills on Wheels” and “Wills for Emergency Service Personnel” programs. The firm was also praised for its efforts in assisting and being one of the most active participants in Atlanta Legal Aid’s Fellowship program, as well as creating the Qualified Domestic Retirement Order (QDRO) Project, which aids in dividing retirement funds for adverse parties during a settlement or divorce case.
Troutman Lawyers Recognized by the Fulton County Daily Report
Sarah Isabel, a former Troutman associate, was selected a recipient of the Fulton County Daily Report's first annual Pro Bono Award - Advocate for the Voiceless category. Sarah was recognized for her pro bono efforts while at Troutman including providing more than 840 pro bono hours in the past five years to HIV-positive individuals and for working with the Atlanta Legal Aid Society to help train 35 lawyers in estate planning for low-income elderly citizens in danger of losing their Medicaid benefits.
Tyler Mann and Mark Newman were selected as finalists in the Consumer Advocacy and Civil Rights categories. Tyler was nominated for his work on behalf of three pro bono clients. For one, he negotiated with a mortgage company and contractor to avoid foreclosure. On behalf of another client, he negotiated with a body shop owner to complete work on the client's vehicle. Finally, he recovered money on behalf of a client from a homeowner's group in a dispute over painting. Mark, a board member of the Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network, began his pro bono work in the 1980's as lead counsel in a federal class action suit for 125,000 Mariel Cubans. He now is helping a Colombian police officer, shot by a higher ranking officer, in his quest for asylum in the U.S.
We are proud of our colleagues' commitment to pro bono work.
Rebecca Williams presented two workshops on legal checklists for non profits at the Air Care Alliance Conference in Atlanta on April 26.
On October 1, 2007, the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Louisiana Bar Association recognized the following Troutman lawyers for their pro bono efforts assisting the victims and families affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. ~ Hannah Styron, Tricia Kerner, Jerome Walker, Tracy Varghese, Kathleen Donahue, Kyle Deak and Alyssa Carducci.
Stephen A. Northup was selected as one of Virginia Lawyers Weekly's "Leaders in the Law" for 2007. The Awards Program seeks to honor lawyers who are changing practice, advancing the law, improving the justice system and setting the standard for other lawyers.
William (Wes) Sheumaker taught a Legal Considerations for Non-Profits Workshop for the Women's Economic Development Agency on August 11, 2007.
On August 10, 2007, Shiriki Cavitt participated on the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division Leadership Academy Panel addressing Community Service and Pro Bono Representation.
In collaboration with Pro Bono Partnership Atlanta, William Hopson spoke on July 17, 2007 to members of Atlanta Housing Association of Neighborhood-based Developers about the details of construction law. Topics included guidelines for a successful construction project, negotiating the best contract terms and resolving construction disputes.
Paul Fancher is a co-recipient of the State Bar of Georgia's 2007 A Business Commitment Pro Bono Award. The A Business Commitment Pro Bono Business Law Award honors the business law pro bono contributions of an individual lawyer, corporate legal department or law firm to the nonprofit community and community economic development sector in Georgia. Paul is recognized for his service to community-based organizations through the A Business Commitment for the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia. Through his pro bono commitment to the nonprofit community he has provided a fine example of professionalism and a model for the delivery of pro bono business law services.
Rebecca Williams participated in "Ask the Expert Panel" at GoGirlGo! Atlanta Leadership Institute on March 22, 2007.
Pro Bono Partner Steve Northup served as a faculty member for the 2007 Pro Bono Institute Annual Seminar in Washington, D.C. He and other panelists discussed options for large law firm pro bono committee structure, membership size, mandate and resources were explored as well as allocation of tasks and responsibilities among committee members and staff.
Kaveh Rashidi-Yazd taught two "Trademarks, Patents and Copyrights" Workshops for the Women's Economic Development Agency; one in February, 2007 and another in June 2007.
Mark Newman received the 2007 Florida Bar Out-of-State Division Pro Bono Service Recognition for his outstanding commitment to pro bono legal services.
Sarah Isabel was awarded the Anti-Defamation League's 2007 Stuart Eizenstat Young Lawyer Award. This Award is presented to a young lawyer in metro Atlanta who has gone above and beyond their legal practice in furtherance of ADL's steadfast mission to seek justice and fair treatment for all citizens alike. Sarah was selected based on her extensive involvement and leadership in pro bono activities at Troutman Sanders and on her involvement in a good number of other non-profit organizations and volunteer activities serving low-income or disadvantaged citizens, both before and during her legal career.
Carter Glass facilitated a session at the 2006 Pro Bono Institute Annual Meeting for Chairs, Pro Bono Committee Members and Pro Bono Coordinators in law firms with over 500 Attorneys – March 2006
Paul Fancher gave a presentation on the Impact of Sarbanes-Oxley on non-profits to representatives from non-profit organizations and foundations sponsored by The Foundation Center – March 2006
Rebecca Williams, Amy Killoran and Maureen Walterbach presented a workshop entitled “Legal Issues of Working with Volunteers,” at the Atlanta Community Food Bank sponsored by the Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta – June 2006
Curry Woods (March and November), John Stephenson (April and May), Jack Kennedy (June and August), and Patrick Macken (August, December) taught Business Legal Considerations classes for the Women’s Economic Development Agency
Sarah Isabel was a co-presenter at a workshop presentation to the Georgia State Association of Non-profit Developers entitled, For-profit Ventures of Non-profits – August 2006
Anne Yates taught a Trademarks and Patents class for the Women’s Economic Development Agency in May, August and November, 2006