(May 1, 2012, Weil News)
The Houston office of global law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges has been selected as the recipient of the 2011 Harris County Bench Bar Pro Bono Award in the mid-size firm category. The annual award, established by the Houston Bar Association in conjunction with the Harris County judiciary, recognizes outstanding pro bono service by law firms, corporations and individual attorneys.
Pro bono and community service is deeply ingrained in the culture of Weil’s Houston office, as well as the firm as a whole. The Houston office is an Equal Access to Justice Champion through the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program and maintains a diverse pro bono docket with cases addressing issues such as civil rights, prisoner's rights, the rights of the mentally ill, immigrants’ rights, parental rights, reunification of parents with abducted children, and social security appeals. In 2011, Houston attorneys and administrative staff contributed more than 4,600 hours to pro bono matters.
The Houston office has also adopted a local inner-city elementary school, providing year-round tutoring, mentoring, and supplies, as well as training to limit bias and bullying and promote tolerance and acceptance.
John Strasburger, Managing Partner of the Houston office and co-chair of the firm’s global Pro Bono Committee, and Sylvia Mayer, partner and Pro Bono Committee member, accepted the award on the firm's behalf at a ceremony on April 30 at the Harris County Civil Courthouse.