O'Melveny Honored by NYLAG for Pro Bono Efforts Following Superstorm Sandy

October 30, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Julie Fei
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
213.430.7792
jfei@omm.com

NEW YORK ─ October 30, 2013 ─ O’Melveny & Myers LLP was recognized on October 29, 2013, by the New York Legal Assistance Group for its efforts in helping the victims of Superstorm Sandy. The event was held at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP’s New York offices to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the devastating storm.

When Superstorm Sandy struck on October 29, 2012, New York Legal Assistance Group’s downtown headquarters were flooded, displacing hundreds of staff attorneys, paralegals, administrators, and volunteers. O’Melveny provided temporary office space for NYLAG’s Housing and Justice at Work Projects, enabling staff to almost seamlessly continue to serve their clients. In addition, in the immediate aftermath of the storm, the Firm’s pro bono attorneys functioned as legal first responders in hard-hit neighborhoods, working side by side with NYLAG attorneys aboard NYLAG’s Mobile Legal Help Center to provide legal advice to victims of the storm.

NYLAG’s Housing and Justice at Work Projects were housed for 10 weeks at O’Melveny. The Housing Project supports low-income tenants in New York City’s five boroughs through representation, advocacy, brief service, and advice.

“We are grateful to O’Melveny & Myers and the entire New York legal community. Their support made it possible for NYLAG to respond quickly and effectively to the legal needs of low-income New Yorkers at a time of unprecedented crisis,” said Yisroel Schulman, NYLAG’s President and Attorney-in Charge.

About O’Melveny & Myers LLP
With approximately 800 lawyers in 16 offices worldwide, O’Melveny & Myers LLP helps industry leaders across a broad array of sectors manage the complex challenges of succeeding in the global economy. We are a values-driven law firm, guided by the principles of excellence, leadership, and citizenship. Our commitment to these values is reflected in our dedication to improving access to justice through pro bono work and championing initiatives that increase the diversity of the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.omm.com

About NYLAG and its Storm Response Effort
New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) is a legal services organization that provides access to justice for low-income New Yorkers who cannot afford private attorneys. After the storm flooded the agency’s offices, law firms and donors across the city provided temporary office space and pro bono support. NYLAG’s legal service units were back up and running within 48 hours. NYLAG immediately reached out to legal services providers in Louisiana and Mississippi who shared their insights and lessons learned post-Katrina. With their help, NYLAG was able to train 100 of its own legal staff and subsequently more than 1,500 pro bono attorneys, including many from O’Melveny & Myers, on the basics of disaster law, using in-depth webinars and training manuals. Recently, NYLAG has been able to “pay it forward” by advising and training legal services groups in Arkansas and Colorado after natural disasters left their communities with similar immediate legal needs.