New York State Bar Association Names 19 Crowell & Moring Attorneys As “Empire State Counsel” For Outstanding Pro Bono Efforts

Washington, D.C. - February 3, 2010: Crowell & Moring LLP is pleased to announce that 19 of its attorneys have been honored by the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) as 2009 "Empire State Counsel" for their outstanding pro bono effort s. The honor was bestowed at the NYSBA's annual Justice for All Luncheon on January 28, 2010 to attorneys who performed 50 or more hours of pro bono service in 2009.

Crowell & Moring pro bono partner Susan M. Hoffman said, "Crowell & Moring's commitment to pro bono work has kept pace with the firm's rapid growth in recent years, and we are honored to be part of the New York State Bar Association's important efforts to benefit the poor."

Crowell & Moring Labor & Employment partner James E. Kellett, who spearheads many of the New York office's pro bono efforts along with counsel Timothy J. Fierst, said, "The economic downturn has placed an increased demand on lawyers to donate their time, intellect, and passion to those who are less fortunate. Everyone has been impacted by the recession or knows someone who has struggled in the current economy, and I believe our lawyers have come to value the importance of pro bono service even more as a result."

Crowell & Moring's Empire State Counsel are:

• Olivier N. Antoine
• Vivian M. Arias
• Steven B. Eichel
• Timothy J. Fierst
• Caitlin FitzRandolph
• Érica Franzetti
• Beth I. Goldman
• James E. Kellett
• Jamie C. Krapf
• Craig P. Lytle
• Ann M. Mason
• Shamiso Maswoswe
• Tasneem S. Novak
• Aryeh S. Portnoy
• Maranda W. Rosenthal
• Ira M. Saxe
• Matthew F. Scarlato
• Sujata E. Sidhu
• Amy Tridgell

In 2006, the NYSBA created the "Empire State Counsel" program to give special recognition to members who provide 50 hours of legal services in a calendar year, at no fee and without expectation of fee, to persons of limited financial means, not-for-profit, governmental or public services organizations, where the legal services are designed primarily to address those persons' legal and other basic needs.

Crowell & Moring has committed itself - as a firm and as a community of professionals - to assure that all citizens have access to the legal system. Crowell & Moring's promotion of broad participation in pro bono work by the firm's attorneys and staff has enabled the firm to serve a range of community needs.

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with more than 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. The firm has offices in Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, Anchorage, London, and Brussels.