Firm Recognized for Pro Bono Leadership.
Manatt's Orange County office received a President's Pro Bono Service Award from the State Bar of California at a reception on Sept. 12 in San Diego. Manatt was recognized for its significant pro bono efforts in immigration, domestic violence, refugee/asylum advocacy, housing and guardianship.
"It is a privilege to be recognized in this way by the State Bar of California," said Scot Fishman, Manatt's director of pro bono activities. "In our offices across the country, Manatt lawyers and other professionals are committed to the communities where we work and live, seeking opportunities to provide broad access to legal services. Our Orange County office does extraordinary work and is emblematic of our firmwide commitment. We are proud of the work they do and grateful to the State Bar for the honor."
Over the past year, Manatt's Orange County office donated more than 2,300 hours of legal service to the Public Law Center, a local legal aid provider committed to ensuring access to justice for low-income residents in the region. The firm's lawyers worked on individual direct legal services matters involving immigration and asylum, domestic violence, housing, guardianship, consumer advocacy, and nonprofit and small business counsel. Examples include handling complex asylum cases on behalf of transgender immigrants, including language interpretation, and assisting LGBT clients who have been victimized and assaulted in their home countries to find safe harbor in the U.S. They petitioned for several highly complex "U" visas on behalf of immigrant victims of serious crimes. Manatt also leveraged the firm's strength in areas including corporate, tax, real estate, employment and intellectual property to assist nonprofits and small businesses serving low-income neighborhoods through PLC's Community Organizations Legal Assistance Project.
Additionally, Manatt worked with PLC on large-impact litigation matters, including litigation to preserve $54 million dedicated to an affordable housing project being developed by Habitat for Humanity in Santa Ana, California. Manatt lawyers also participate regularly in legal clinics, such as the Central District's Santa Ana Branch District Court Pro Se Clinic, where they provide counsel and advice in areas including civil rights, intellectual property and Social Security appeals.
"We are extremely gratified by this honor," said William T. Quicksilver, Manatt's chief executive officer and managing partner. "The important work our Orange County professionals do with PLC is indicative of Manatt's firmwide commitment to pro bono services. We are honored that the State Bar has recognized this work and proud of the positive impact our lawyers have had in the Orange County community and beyond."
Manatt is committed to promoting equal access to the legal system, with professionals and staff actively involved in the firm's pro bono representations annually devoting significant time and resources to hundreds of nonprofit organizations and individuals in need of legal services across the country.
Manatt's Orange County office was recently recognized for its efforts in immigration and domestic violence cases, earning PLC's 2014 Law Firm of the Year award.
About Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, is one of the nation's leading law and consulting firms, with offices strategically located in California (Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Sacramento), New York (New York City and Albany) and Washington, D.C. The firm represents a sophisticated client base - including Fortune 500, middle-market and emerging companies - across a range of practice areas and industry sectors. For more information, visit www.manatt.com.