Volunteers from Simpson Thacher were recognized at Legal Services NYC's annual awards ceremony on October 30, 2008. Simpson Thacher partner William T. Russell, Jr., and associates Eric Albert, Christine Kirkland, Alison M. Kelly, Agnes Dunogue, Justin Diamant, B. Scott Reardon, Thomas Welling, Michelle Hertz, Linton Mann III, Brittania Stewart, Samuel Rubin, Jacob Mermelstein, Ted DeBonis, Jason Meltzer, Andrea Griswold, Ihsan Dogramaci, Paige Fleming, Edward Bauer, Riley Mendoza and Ryan Soots were honored for their pro bono efforts in support of Legal Services-NYC. In particular, the firm was honored for its representation of dozens of low-income tenants in housing court proceedings in conjunction with lawyers from Manhattan Legal Services (a constituent corporation of Legal Services-NYC).
Legal Services-NYC is the largest organization in the United States exclusively devoted to providing free civil legal services. With offices in neighborhoods in each of New York City's boroughs, the organization provides free legal help in matters involving housing, family, domestic violence, public benefits, income tax, employment, education, consumer rights and economic development.