O'Melveny's Swerdlow Receives USC’s Public Interest Law Foundation’s Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award

五月 05, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Amber Burke
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
415.984.8891
aburke@omm.com

LOS ANGELES ─ May 5, 2014 ─ On April 23, 2014, O’Melveny & Myers counsel Robert Swerdlow was honored with the Paul Davis Memorial Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award by the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law’s Public Interest Law Foundation at its annual pro bono luncheon in Los Angeles.

The award honors attorneys in the private sector who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to pro bono matters. Swerdlow was nominated and selected by Public Interest Law Foundation alumni and advisory board members for his work with the Alliance for Children’s Rights on behalf of foster care families in California. In 2013, Swerdlow and an O’Melveny team secured a precedent-setting victory for individuals seeking to serve as foster parents to children who are related to them.

The Alliance for Children’s Rights protects the rights of impoverished, abused, and neglected children and youth. By providing free legal services and advocacy, the Alliance ensures children have safe, stable homes, healthcare, and the education they need to thrive. Since 1992, Alliance has served 125,000 children, providing them with permanency through adoption and legal guardianship, access to healthcare, and an equitable education.

The USC Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) is a student-run, non-profit organization that promotes social justice lawyering, equal access to the law, and the empowerment of marginalized and underrepresented communities. The Foundation is dedicated to developing a service ethic among law students and to facilitating careers in public-interest law. PILF promotes public-interest law at USC in three main ways: 1) it organizes pro bono clinic opportunities for students to volunteer with local organizations, 2) it hosts lectures and events at the law school about public-interest law issues, and 3) through its grant program, PILF funds students pursuing public-interest work over the summer.

O'Melveny’s Los Angeles-based team also included partner Scott Voelz and counsel Adrian Pollner. Editor Jesse Katz also provided invaluable editing and insights. In addition, of counsel Scott Dunham and a number of O’Melveny alumni worked on the case, including Paul McNamara, Elyse Meyers, Justin Ford, Katie Keitges, Sarah Rutledge, and Briana Suska.”

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