News & Events

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP deeply regrets the loss of life and distress and evacuation of the residents of greater New Orleans and surrounding areas in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. To show support and concern in this time of national disaster, the Firm is participating in the following efforts:

• Firm attorneys are assisting pro bono the Baton Rouge Area Foundation which will be the recipient of funds raised at the September 17th "Higher Ground Hurricane Relief" concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center (See http://www.foundationsforrecovery.org)
• The head of the Firm's Exempt Organization Group traveled to Baton Rouge, LA, to provide pro bono advice to the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, which will be a recipient of funds raised by the Bush-Clinton Hurricane Katrina Fund. The Firm’s Exempt Organizations lawyers are providing legal services in support of the "Big Apple to the Big Easy Concert" at Madison Square Garden on September 20th (See http://www.fromthebigappletothebigeasy.com/), of which the Bush-Clinton Hurricane Katrina Fund is a principal beneficiary.
• The Firm has established an employee fund that will match employee contributions to relief organizations of their choice up until September 30th.
• Firm Exempt Organizations attorneys are answering numerous press, government, and scholarly inquiries about rules for operating relief funds and lessons charities learned from 9/11 disaster relief efforts.
• In response to requests from lawyers in the Southeast, the firm's Exempt Organization team has updated and distributed the Firm's model relief documents for employer-controlled charities. (See http://www.simpsonthacher.com/content/Practices/Practices57_3.pdf).
• The Firm's Exempt Organizations attorneys are assisting corporate clients providing relief payments and services to their evacuated employees. 
• The Firm is advising clients about donating funds and services to help the evacuees and to rebuild greater New Orleans.