Diversity and Community Service Mosaics Newsletter
Transcription
Diversity and Community Service Mosaics Newsletter
Diversity & Community Service mosaics Dear Employees, Clients and Friends of Kramer Levin, Fall 2007 1 Kramer Levin Honored As “Pro Bono Champion” by Legal Services for New York City 2 Diversity Speaker Series: The Celebration Continues 2 New York Cares 13th Annual Hands on New York Day! 3 Outreach to Minority Student Organizations 3 Kramer Levin Among Firms Honored For Representing Guantánamo Bay Detainees 4 Kramer Levin Helps Reverse State Policy on Recognition of Valid Marriages of SameSex Couples 4 Women’s Initiatives 5 Kramer Levin Receives Perfect Score from Human Rights Campaign List of Best Companies for GLBT Equality 5 Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) Program 6 Kramer Levin Named One of the Nation’s Best Law Firms for Women by Working Mother and Flex Time Lawyers 7 Interview with Partner and Firm General Counsel Charlotte Moses Fischman: National Alliance for Mental Illness As Co-Chairs of the firm’s Diversity Committee, it gives us great pleasure to share our recent accomplishments relating to community activities, diversity programs and pro bono achievements. Indeed, in the past few months, our efforts have been recognized in the legal and business communities through surveys such as Top Law Firms for Women and awards from such organizations as Legal Services for New York City. As you may know, throughout the past year, the Diversity, Women’s Initiatives and Pro Bono Committees have implemented several new communication and development programs to build on the firm’s long-standing commitment to diversity and community service. Some examples include the Diversity Speaker Series, women’s luncheons with high-level female executives throughout many industries, minority recruiting outreach through mock interview events and internal diversity training sessions. We look forward to expanding our existing programs to ensure that all of our attorneys and staff have adequate opportunities to engage in various programs of personal interest to them. We continue to believe that embracing diversity and the community in which we live allows us to make more informed decisions that will have farreaching and lasting benefits for everyone our firm touches: our employees, our families and our clients. Christopher S. Auguste Corporate Partner Kevin B. Leblang Partner and Chair, Employment Law Department Kramer Levin Honored As “Pro Bono Champion” by Legal Services for New York City Legal Services for New York City (LSNY) honored Kramer Levin as one of its “Pro Bono Champions” for 2007 for its decade-long commitment to staffing a full-time Housing Court externship at South Brooklyn Legal Services. LSNY, the umbrella organization for Legal Services offices in New York and the largest provider of free civil legal services to low-income people in the United States, also presented individual pro bono recognition awards to Pro Bono Committee Chair Jeffrey S. Trachtman for his support of the externship program and to Kramer Levin’s recent South Brooklyn externs, associates Darren Cohen, Christos Yatrakis, Guilaine Senecal and Tracy Sigal. ■ 8 Diversity and Community Calendar www.kramerlevin.com Attorney Advertising Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP 2 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics Diversity Speaker Series: The Celebration Continues Kramer Levin views diversity as one of our core values and recognizes that promoting diversity must be a continuous process. As part of that process, the importance of diversity is communicated as often as possible. Over the past several months, Kramer Levin hosted a number of events at the firm in an effort to provide information and insight related to a specific heritage, race or cultural background: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month In May our firm honored Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with guest speaker Peter Kwong. Mr. Kwong, noted author and Professor of Asian American Studies and Urban Affairs and Planning at Hunter College, engaged in a discussion entitled “Half the Glass Ceiling.” In his thought-provoking talk, he presented the Asian American experience in regard to society and status. Mr. Kwong explained how stereotypes impact people and provided insight as to how any diverse group can work together and create a more supportive society. LGBT Pride Month In June in honor of LGBT Pride Month, the firm hosted Evan Wolfson, founder and Executive Director of Freedom to Marry. Mr. Wolfson energized the group with a recap of the progress made to date in achieving equal marriage rights for same sex couples. He Evan Wolfson also encouraged everyone to continue working for full equality and not to view the interim step of civil unions as the last measure of success. Diverse Attorney Luncheon Kramer Levin also celebrated the varied differences among our attorneys by hosting a Diverse Attorney Luncheon in July. More than 35 attorneys, including summer associates, attended an informal lunch at Bann, a Korean restaurant. ■ New York Cares 13th Annual Hands on New York Day! Spring cleaning was taken to a new level by a team of Kramer Levin employees who volunteered for New York Cares 13th annual Hands on New York Day on Saturday, April 21, 2007. Our volunteers included Ernestine Brower, Hai Deep, team leader Tatiana Gonzalez, Sweta Goswami, Vaughn Hayes and Iris Ramirez along with their families and friends. Joined by over 3,500 participants in 89 sites throughout the five boroughs, volunteers helped clean, paint and revamp our city’s public spaces, which included parks, gardens, playgrounds, community centers, homeless shelters and schools. Team Kramer Levin was assigned to revitalizing Edgecombe Garden and Sugar Hill Park in Manhattan on Edgecombe Avenue and 150th Street. The fun-filled day started off with a welcome from our New York Cares Team Captain, Sharon Katz. Sharon introduced the Kramer Levin team to both sites which were in very poor condition. She assigned productive projects for each team member which included raking, painting benches, planting daffodils, replacing chicken wire and clearing out debris and litter. Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP After a few short hours, the park and garden were transformed into a pleasant environment ready for summer. Team Kramer Levin ended its day with a feeling of overwhelming pride and accomplishment. This wonderful program will enable New York’s children and adults alike to enjoy healthier, finer and safer public spaces throughout the five boroughs. Thanks to all the volunteers for their amazing efforts in making Hands on New York Day a rewarding and productive day of great fun and great work. All our team members played an incredible role in the project’s success. ■ Diversity & Community Service Mosaics Outreach to Minority Student Organizations Mock Interview Program. In July Kramer Levin conducted the “2007 NYC Minority Mock Interview Program.” This program, made available to minority students from Brooklyn Law School, Columbia Law School, Fordham Law School and New York University School of Law, allowed minority students the opportunity to practice their interviewing skills while receiving valuable feedback on the interview and their resumes in time for the fall interview season. Panel Discussions. In August the firm sponsored a panel discussion on “Preparing for the Interview” for the Fordham Black Law Student Association. Attorneys Leslie Nguyen and Aaron Fleisher, and summer associates Katrina Baker, Jason Rappaport and Dannie Cho provided insight and guidance to students on best practices involving resumé compilation and interviewing techniques. ■ Kramer Levin Among Firms Honored For Representing Guantánamo Bay Detainees The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) presented its 2007 Beacon of Justice Award to Kramer Levin along with more than 50 other law firms from across the nation that have provided pro bono legal assistance to detainees at Guantánamo Bay. In honoring these firms, NLADA noted that “the uncompromising stance taken by these law firms to provide representation to individuals, despite public criticism, demonstrates an unwavering belief and commitment to fairness and equality under the law for all persons accused of a crime.” Michael Sternhell (second from left) with three released clients. Michael Sternhell, a member of the Kramer Levin team representing seven current and former Guantánamo detainees, accepted the award on behalf of the firm at NLADA’s Exemplar Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C. The dinner is an annual event held by NLADA to honor those lawyers who work to improve the quality of representation for people unable to pay for legal assistance and to salute outstanding individuals who set an example in that regard by their extraordinary dedication, achievement, leadership and vision. ■ Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP 3 4 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics Kramer Levin Helps Reverse State Policy on Recognition of Valid Marriages of Same-Sex Couples Hernandez plaintiffs, from left: Curtis Woolbright and Daniel Reyes; Douglas Robinson, Michael Elsasser, and sons Zachary and Justin; Donna Freeman-Tweed, Lauren Abrams, and sons Micah and Elijah; Mary Jo Kennedy, Jo-Ann Shain, and daughter Aliya; and Daniel Hernandez and Nevin Cohen. The New York State Department of Civil Service (DCS) has reversed its policy denying recognition to the marriages of same-sex couples entered into in other jurisdictions, directing that such marriages be respected for purposes of providing insurance coverage to public employees covered by the New York State Health Insurance Plan (NYSHIP). The change in policy affects employees of more than 800 public employers across the State. The prior policy was challenged in a suit brought by Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and Kramer Levin on behalf of a retired Nassau County schoolteacher who married his partner of 43 years in Canada but was denied the spousal health insurance benefits to which he was entitled. The school district and DCS took this position even though the state Attorney General, Comptroller and other public officials and private entities throughout the state had recognized New York’s long-standing legal rule that a marriage valid in the jurisdiction where it was celebrated should be respected in New York. Ignoring this rule, a Nassau County Supreme Court Justice rejected the challenge in July 2006, but that decision remains on appeal. The change in policy, in part in reaction to the suit, follows the election of Governor Eliot Spitzer, who as attorney general had agreed with plaintiff ’s position and declined to defend the DCS policy. Governor Spitzer simultaneously introduced a bill to provide full civil marriage equality for same-sex couples in New York, which would reverse the exclusion upheld last year in Hernandez v. Robles, another case brought by Lambda Legal and Kramer Levin. Partners Jeffrey S. Trachtman and Norman C. Simon, and associates Jennifer Haber, Darren Cohen, Aaron Fleisher and Adina Levine are currently working with Lambda Legal on its marriage equality matters in New York. ■ Women’s Initiatives Increasing the recruitment, retention and advancement of talented women attorneys is an ongoing goal of the firm. To that end, the Women’s Initiative Committee implemented several new programs during the past year, designed to expand networking and business development opportunities for women, facilitate a sense of community among women attorneys and ensure that the views and concerns of women attorneys at all levels are considered by the partnership. These programs include: ■ Small group lunches (25 to date) with prominent women in law and business, including a United States District Judge, General Counsels of major corporations and foundations, principals of investment companies, independent entrepreneurs and a Wall Street Journal reporter; Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP ■ Lunches outside the office hosted by individual Kramer Levin women partners for small groups of women associates and special counsel; ■ Seminars and panel discussions for all attorneys on worklife balance issues, including a firm-wide presentation by Deborah Epstein Henry, founder of FlexTime Lawyers LLC, titled “Work/life Balance in a 24/7 World”; and ■ Formation of a Women’s Initiative Advisory Committee, consisting of associates and special counsel representing a broad range of departments and class years, to advise and collaborate with the Women’s Initiative Committee. The firm also continued its tradition of having firm-wide lunches for its women attorneys, including one with this year’s summer associates. ■ Diversity & Community Service Mosaics Kramer Levin Receives Perfect Score from Human Rights Campaign in List of Best Companies for GLBT Equality One of Only Four New York City Based Law Firms Demonstrating the firm’s continuing commitment to diversity, Kramer Levin earned a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) sixth annual report, the “Corporate Equality Index.” The HRC, which is the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) rights organization, uses the Corporate Equality Index as a tool to rate American businesses on how they treat GLBT employees, consumers and investors. Kramer Levin is one of only four New York City law firms and one of 27 law firms nationwide to receive the HRC’s 100 percent perfect rating. “We take great pride in this top score,” said Paul Pearlman, Kramer Levin’s managing partner. “Kramer Levin has always believed in the value of diversity in the workplace and that discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, has no place in our firm.” In addition to providing generous benefits to its employees without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity, Kramer Levin has played a leading role in pro bono GLBT rights litigation for over a decade. The firm served as cocounsel with Lambda Legal in Hernandez v. Robles, which sought equal marriage rights for same-sex couples under New York law, and is currently litigating several cases involving respect in New York for marriages of same-sex couples entered into in other jurisdictions. Kramer Levin also submitted amicus briefs Boy Scouts v. Dale and Lawrence v. Texas, two landmark GLBT cases before the United States Supreme Court; litigated the case that established second parent adoption rights under Delaware law; and obtained asylum for GLBT people fleeing persecution in their homelands and seeking refuge in the United States. “I am proud to be part of a firm that recognizes the importance of equitable policies in the workplace and remains dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive environment,” said openly gay litigation partner Norman C. Simon. “Kramer Levin’s extensive GLBT work speaks volumes about the firm’s true commitment to equality.” The 2007 HRC Corporate Equality Index ratings were based on several questions that assess whether companies have a written non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation; support transgender employees with written non-discrimination policies and benefits; offer inclusive health insurance, bereavement and family leave policies to employees with same-sex partners; offer diversity training; have GLBT employee groups; engage in appropriate and respectful advertising to the GLBT community; contribute to GLBT community organizations; and decline to engage in any activities that would undermine the goal of equal rights for GLBT people. ■ Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) Program This past summer, Kramer Levin supported the Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) Corporate Law program by hosting intern Brittlynn Hall. The SEO Program is the nation’s premier summer internship for talented students of Brittlynn Hall color and is featured in Princeton Review’s 109 Best Internships in America. Kramer Levin’s intern, Ms. Hall, was an outstanding student from the University of Alabama–Birmingham and is attending the University of Michigan Law School this fall. During her time here, Brittlynn worked with many of our attorneys on several projects in various departments. In addition to sponsoring an intern, the firm also participated in a Breakfast Reception Series to apprise all SEO Corporate Law interns about the life in a law firm. Kramer Levin hosted a discussion focusing on the St. Basil pro bono case handled by Kramer Levin litigation partner Gregory Horowitz, programs and initiatives conducted by the New York City Bar’s Office of Diversity, and insight from Kramer Levin partner and Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee, Christopher Auguste. ■ Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP 5 6 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics Kramer Levin Named One of the Nation’s Best Law Firms for Women by Working Mother and Flex Time Lawyers NEW YORK, August 15, 2007 — Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers LLC have named Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP one of the top 50 law firms for women in the nation, and one of ten firms based in New York City. The honor recognizes programs the firm has undertaken to help women strike a better work/life balance while maintaining the same opportunities to rise to partnership. Such programs have included flexible schedules and many women’s initiatives that incorporate networking, education and leadership components. “Kramer Levin is very proud of its exemplary women lawyers and is committed to helping them become leaders in the legal community,” said Paul Pearlman, Kramer Levin’s managing partner. “We are honored to receive this recognition and will continue our efforts to develop some of the legal community’s most innovative programs for women lawyers.” Kramer Levin elected its first woman to the partnership in 1975, seven years after the firm opened its doors in 1968, and has remained committed to providing its women attorneys with the opportunity, education and support to develop successful practices and become leaders both inside and outside of the firm. Women lawyers have continued to play a significant role in the firm including partners Susan Penry-Williams as Co-Chair of the Financial Services Department, Charlotte Fischman as the firm’s General Counsel, Kerri Ann Law as Co-Chair of the Hiring Committee and Jennifer Rochon as Chair of the Women’s Initiatives Committee. In addition, many women partners, special counsel and associates serve on various committees within the firm. The firm recognizes the importance of work-life balance by offering generous leave policies, back-up child-care, and flexible part-time schedules. Since 2005, about 25% of the firm’s newly elected partners have been women, including two women working part-time schedules who continue to do so, and one woman who was on maternity leave when promoted. The firm also has established popular Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP programs for women lawyers through which they can attend networking lunches with successful women in the business and legal community, training sessions on topics of interest, and social events with women clients. “As the firm’s first female partner, I am pleased to see the firm continue to cultivate an environment that supports both personal, professional and philanthropic priorities that women have in their lives,” said partner Charlotte Fischman. “The firm has supported my career progression and development within the firm as well as outside the firm as I serve as Special Counsel to the Disciplinary Committee for the First Department, a consulting member of the New York Community Trust and President and Chairman of the Board of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of New York City.” Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers, a national consulting firm advising attorneys and legal employers on work-life balance and the retention and advancement of women, announced their first-ever list of Best Law Firms for Women on August 14. To win this recognition, Kramer Levin was evaluated on the issues that are most important to the retention and promotion of women lawyers in six measured areas: workforce profile, benefits and compensation, parental leave, childcare, flexibility, and retention and advancement of women. The complete list of the 2007 Best Law Firms for Women can be found in the August/September issue of Working Mother magazine and at www.workingmother.com and www.flextimelawyers.com. ■ Diversity & Community Service Mosaics Interview with Partner and Firm General Counsel Charlotte Moses Fischman: National Alliance for Mental Illness Charlotte Fischman is the current President of the Board of Directors of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), New York City Metro Chapter. NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Interviewer: Charlotte, what got you involved with NAMI in the first place? How long have you been working towards this cause? Charlotte: In 1996, my daughter was diagnosed with a serious and persistent mental Charlotte Moses Fischman illness. By 1999, I was on the Board of NAMI. My association with NAMI permitted me to try to have an impact on the mental health system and, at the same time, to stay well informed about research, developments and programs that might benefit my daughter. Interviewer: Please tell us a little bit more about NAMI. Charlotte: NAMI is a New York City affiliate of a national movement that had its origins about three decades ago. Formed by family members responsible for the care and treatment of their loved ones, NAMI provides support, education and advocacy for families and individuals who live with mental illness and works collaboratively with other stakeholders in the community to educate the public, advocate for legislation, reduce stigma and discrimination, and improve the mental health system. Interviewer: What are the activities in which you participate and do you have a specific role within the organization? Charlotte: As the President and Chairman of the Board of NAMI, I participate in all of NAMI’s activities, which include the presentation of public programs, lobbying for legislative change, running support groups, supporting the Helpline, family psychoeducation, outreach to the African American, Asian American and Latino communities of New York City, operating a large volunteer program, and evaluating Timothy’s Law, which mandates that insurance providers covering any health care services must also provide coverage for mental health services. Interviewer: How supportive has Kramer Levin been with your work with NAMI? Have employees participated in any NAMI events? Charlotte: Kramer Levin has made its resources available to NAMI, a tremendous source of strength to a small notfor-profit like NAMI. The firm makes its conference room space available for board meetings and public meetings, and the lawyers have done pro bono work on NAMI’s corporate documents, the handling of bequests to NAMI, NAMI’s registration as a lobbyist and a host of other legal issues that arise from time to time. Not-for-profits like NAMI must comply with a growing list of laws and regulations, and the firm’s expertise in not-for-profit law and corporate law has served NAMI well. NAMI held its first NAMIWALK at the South Street Seaport this year, joining a growing number of NAMIWALKS throughout the nation. Kramer Levin hosted the kick-off luncheon, formed a walking team and many staff members participated in the Walk and raised money. I was touched by the participation and amazed by the success of the fund raising. Interviewer: What can the general public do to help NAMI in its mission? Charlotte: Mental illness touches all of us. As individuals we need to stand up and speak about our personal experiences to help erase the stigma that surrounds mental illness. The medical community knows that mental illness is a misnomer. A sick brain is no different than any other sick or diseased organ—heart, kidneys, liver, etc. Mental illness is biologically based, no different than physical illness. If this message can be delivered to the general public and reflected in the media, then the terrible prejudice and discrimination that persons with mental illness face will weaken. Persons suffering from schizophrenia, bi-polar disease, depression and other serious mental illnesses often face a lifetime battle to reclaim their lives and start the process of recovery. The community’s acceptance of these individuals and recognition of their heroic struggles would be part of the cure. Each of us should try to confront stigma and discrimination, and we can do that in the workplace, at Kramer Levin. ■ Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP 7 8 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics Diversity and Community Calendar September 2007 s m t w th f sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 September (Kramer Levin’s offices, New York) Back to School Drive: School supplies collected to help homeless children at the Coalition for the Homeless; and for homeless children attending Monica Lord’s (retired partner) 5th grade class at P.S. 154 located in the South Bronx. September 20 (Agora Gallery, NY, NY) Kramer Levin was a sponsor of the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Pro Bono Awards. October 2007 s m t w th f sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 November 2007 s m t w th f sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 December 2007 s m t w th f sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 September 24 (Mandarin Oriental Hotel) Kramer Levin received the Kramer Levin award at the Working Mother Media and Flex-Time Lawyer’s inaugural Best Law Firms for Women Luncheon. Kerri Ann Law received the award on behalf of the firm. hone their strategic skills and keep their minds sharp. This will all be accomplished as our women and invited guests learn to play poker from a former business executive turned poker tournament competitor. October 17 (Ernst & Young, 5 Times Square, 22nd Floor, NY, NY) The firm will receive an award at a reception for its perfect score on the 2008 Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index (CEI), which evaluates how companies treat their LGBT employees. Norman C. Simon will accept the award on behalf of the firm. October 20, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm (New York City) New York Cares Day. October 21, 9:00 am (Central Park) October 9 (Simon Wiesenthal Center, 226 E. 42nd Street, New York) Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. The firm is hosting a private tour and program at the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s New York Tolerance Center, a professional development multi-media training facility. October 12, 12:30 – 2 pm (Kramer Levin’s Offices, New York) Panel discussion: Artful Networking, Business Generation, and Maintaining Client Relationships. Kramer Levin attorneys are invited to participate in a networking panel discussion with panelists Thomas Constance, Kevin Leblang, Jody Maier, Susan PenryWilliams, Amy Caton and moderator Jennifer Rochon. Please note this panel discussion is sponsored by the Kramer Levin Women’s Initiatives Committee. November 8, 9 (Marriott Marquis, New York) Kramer Levin is sponsoring the Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s 8th Annual Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference. November/December (Kramer Levin’s offices, New York) Holiday Toy Drive for the benefit of Thorpe Family Center of the Bronx. December (Kramer Levin’s offices, New York) Collecting hats/scarves/gloves for the Coalition for the Homeless’ Grand Central Food Program (mobile soup kitchen that also gives warm clothes to the homeless). October 17 (The Penn Club of New York) Kramer Levin Women’s Poker Night Event. At the firm’s third annual women’s event, Kramer Levin women attorneys and clients will socialize, have fun, Editors If you have any questions or would like more information concerning any of these topics, please contact: Cindy B. Arnold 212.715.9371 Director of Human Resources [email protected] Lauren Tapper 212.715.9287 Director of Diversity [email protected] Jody E. Maier 212.715.7612 Director of Marketing [email protected] Jeffrey S. Trachtman 212.715.9175 Partner, Chair of Pro Bono Committee [email protected] Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
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