NEW YORK, July 19, 2021: International law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is pleased to announce the 2021-2022 class of its multi-stakeholder philanthropic initiative, the Weil Legal Innovators Program (WLI), now in its second year.

The twelve individuals in this cohort were accepted to one of the WLI partner law schools and deferred entering their first year of study to complete one year of public service at a WLI nonprofit partner organization. The Innovators commence their fellowships at the nonprofit organizations later this summer and continue through July 2022, and before they begin their first year of law school. The Innovators’ WLI positions at nonprofit organizations and law school acceptances are as follows:

• Sofia Barbosa will join the Tahirih Justice Center in Houston, TX as Health Justice Coordinator. She will attend University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
• Jonathan Chan will join the Earthwatch Institute in Boston, MA as Impact Manager. He will attend Harvard Law School.
• Bianca Corgan will join The Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C. as Coordinator, Youth Leadership Program. She will attend Harvard Law School.
• Bitania Endalkachew will join the National Women’s Law Center in Washington, D.C. as TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund Innovator. She will attend Columbia Law School.
• Ryan Foo will join the National Urban League in New York, NY as Regulatory and Compliance Law Fellow. He will attend Harvard Law School.
• Leah Hebron will join Human Rights Watch in Washington, D.C. as Associate, Washington Advocacy Team. She will attend Georgetown University Law Center.
• Malka Himelhoch will join Met Council in New York, NY as Public Policy Innovator. She will attend Harvard Law School.
• Nina Kumar will join the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas in Houston, TX as Intake Coordinator/Litigation Assistant. She will attend Columbia Law School.
• Chace Pulley will join the Tahirih Justice Center in Falls Church, VA as Pro Se Toolkit Coordinator. She will attend Columbia Law School.
• Indira Rivera will join the National Urban League in New York, NY as Equitable Justice Fellow. She will attend Columbia Law School.
• Sharonya Vadakattu will join United Way of New York City in New York, NY as Associate, Justice and Opportunity. She will attend New York University School of Law.
• Zoe Verni will join the Tahirih Justice Center in San Bruno, CA as Tech Access Coordinator. She will attend University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

All Innovators will receive a $50,000 salary and full benefits package for their one-year engagement with the aforementioned nonprofit organizations. Upon starting law school, they will receive a $10,000 scholarship towards their first year academic expenses. Nonprofit partners will receive a stipend to help cover operating expenses associated with onboarding their Innovators. Due to the ongoing pandemic, most Innovators will begin their posts with their nonprofit organizations in a remote capacity.

The 2021-2022 WLI program kicks off this week with an orientation featuring presentations and panel discussions led by Weil leadership, nonprofit leaders and external subject matter experts.

“This second cohort of Weil Legal Innovators is an outstanding group of next-generation leaders and change-makers who share our Firm’s commitment to social responsibility and social impact,” commented Weil Executive Partner Barry Wolf. “We are proud of the diverse range of nonprofit organizations where our Innovators will serve; this aligns with our goal of shaping a brighter future for both the legal profession and public service.”

The WLI program is made possible by an annual commitment of more than $1 million from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

For more information, please visit: https://www.weil.com/weil-legal-innovators

About Weil’s Citizenship Commitment

Weil is committed to engaging as a responsible corporate citizen in the communities where we live and work. The Firm’s corporate citizenship footprint is brought to bear through Weil’s longstanding community engagement; diversity, equity and inclusion; pro bono legal service; and charitable contributions programs, including the Weil Foundation.

About Weil

Founded in 1931, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has been a preeminent provider of legal services for the past 90 years. With approximately 1,100 lawyers in offices on three continents, Weil has been a pioneer in establishing a geographic footprint that has allowed the Firm to partner with clients wherever they do business. The Firm’s four departments, Corporate, Litigation, Restructuring, and Tax, Executive Compensation & Benefits, and more than two dozen practice groups are consistently recognized as leaders in their respective fields.