News

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20 Mar 2007

DLA Piper names Richard Gruenberger Pro Bono Manager in New York

New Position Created to Manage Regional and New York Pro Bono Programs

Press Release

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(NEW YORK) – DLA Piper US LLP announced today that Richard Gruenberger has been named pro bono manager in the firm’s New York office. In the newly created position, Richard will assist with regional pro bono programs in Boston and Philadelphia and oversee operations for the New York office’s pro bono efforts, including the firm's New York Pro Bono Signature Project, Access to Education.

Launched in October, Access to Education is the first multidisciplinary pro bono project of its kind designed to address the needs of low-income, preschool and school-age children in New York City. More than 150 attorneys and staff from the New York office are donating upward of 5,000 hours to this project.

“Access to Education is a great success, and we are pleased to have Richard join the firm to continue expanding this initiative,” said Lisa Dewey, US pro bono partner for DLA Piper. “His professional dedication to pro bono work brings nearly 15 years of experience that will be extremely valuable to the continued development of the firm’s pro bono platform.”

“Richard will be a tremendous asset to DLA Piper,” added Joshua Sohn, partner and pro bono coordinator for DLA Piper in New York. “His diverse skill set and passion for serving pro bono clients will further enhance our network of pro bono initiatives.”

Gruenberger has dedicated his professional career to the pro bono community through his work at the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), a nonprofit organization that provides free, civil legal services to underprivileged individuals and families residing in the five boroughs of New York City who would otherwise be unable to access legal assistance. He joined the organization in 1993, serving first in the General Legal Services Unit, and then in the Matrimonial/Family Law Unit where he represented clients in all matrimonial and family law matters, including divorce, custody, orders of protection and equitable distribution.

In 2006 alone, DLA Piper lawyers spent nearly 110,000 hours on pro bono and civic activities. DLA Piper’s US pro bono program, which is led by a full-time partner and four pro bono managers, administers pro bono programs ranging from local legal rights and support programs to national and international signature projects that focus on, among other subjects, human rights, community progress, justice and gender equality, and hunger relief.

Named as NYLAG’s Pro Bono Supervising Attorney in 1997, Gruenberger worked with many of New York’s leading law firms to promote pro bono representation of low-income clients. He became the Director of the Pro Bono and Volunteer Unit in 2000, where he maintained his family law case load and supervised teams of pro bono attorneys and volunteers who represented NYLAG clients.

“I am thrilled to be joining a firm that has a strong local, national and international commitment to pro bono efforts,” said Gruenberger. “From the firm’s innovative signature projects across the US to its unprecedented international pro bono initiative, New Perimeter, DLA Piper has taken a leadership role among law firms committed to pro bono causes.”

Gruenberger is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York’s Pro Bono and Legal Services Committee and their Matrimonial Committee. He is also a member of the New York Bar Association’s Pro Bono Coordinator’s Network.

Gruenberger earned a J.D. from University of San Diego School of Law and a B.S. from Skidmore College in New York.


About DLA Piper
DLA Piper has 3,200 lawyers in 24 countries and 63 offices throughout the US, UK, Continental Europe, Middle East and Asia. It has leading practices in corporate, finance, human resources, litigation, real estate, regulatory and legislative, tax, and technology, media and communications. In certain jurisdictions, this information may be considered attorney advertising.

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CONTACTS:
Elizabeth Dewey, US Pro Bono Partner, DLA Piper, 202.861.6218
Jason Costa, Media Relations, DLA Piper, 212.776.3739
Brian Kiefer, Media Relations, GreenTarget Global Group, 312.252.4113