Pro Bono Report (Winter 2014)

In a firm where commitment to pro bono work is strong, the San Francisco office of Davis Wright Tremaine is particularly committed. Of the eight DWT offices around the U.S., San Francisco devoted the most hours to pro bono work, per attorney, in 2013.

Leading the charge, as he has for many years, has been Thomas R. Burke, a partner in our media group. Burke has a national reputation for his work on free speech and public records litigation, and this past year he pursued a string of important pro bono matters.

“If even a portion of these claims are true, this is a case worth investigating.”

That was the message from an Oregon appellate commissioner upon reviewing a 100-page complaint—originally written out by hand—from an inmate at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. The inmate, convicted of aggravated murder in Oregon and sentenced to life, had been transferred to Oklahoma under an Interstate Corrections Compact. His lawsuit described a litany of mistreatment at the hands of prison officials, and at the hands of fellow inmates enabled by those officials.

George Wukoson, an associate in DWT’s New York office, was honored by The Legal Aid Society as one of the recipients of the Society’s 2013 Pro Bono Publico Awards, which recognize outstanding service to the Society and its clients.

The Honorable Jonathan Lippman, Chief Judge of the State of New York, presided over the awards ceremony, held in October.

By far the biggest news story of the past year was the revelation that the U.S. National Security Agency has been engaging in extensive surveillance of communications, including bulk collection of telephone records of citizens. This surveillance has prompted widespread concern among privacy-rights advocates—and multiple lawsuits. Among them is one spearheaded by the ACLU and one led by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. On behalf of PEN American Center, the national nonprofit association of writers, Davis Wright Tremaine has filed amicus briefs in both cases.

Puget Sound-area law firms and legal service providers convened on October 23rd to learn about opportunities to serve the local community through pro bono work, at a fair hosted by the Seattle office of DWT. Nearly two dozen organizations were on hand to talk with lawyers about ways they can assist.

Three partners in DWT’s Portland office were honored in late 2013 for their longtime commitment to community service.

Gene Grant, former co-chair of the firm’s real estate and land-use practice, was awarded the Oregon State Bar’s 2013 President’s Award for Public Service. The annual award recognizes a single Oregon attorney for “significant contributions to the public” through pro bono work, community service, and other activities.

In November, DWT Seattle partner Harry Korrell Jr., who has served on the board of directors of Legal Services Corporation since 2010, was nominated to continue in that position by President Obama. The appointment has been sent to the Senate for approval.