Lowenstein Sandler has announced the release of its 2021 Pro Bono Report, which details the firm’s pro bono efforts last year through the Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest. In 2021, Lowenstein dedicated more than 23,000 hours to pro bono work and served 623 pro bono clients. On average, each Lowenstein lawyer spent 64 hours on pro bono matters in 2021.

The firm has dedicated 488,815 hours to pro bono work over the past 25 years.

“In 2021, Lowenstein’s lawyers leaned into the principles of professional excellence, community service, and inclusivity on which our firm was founded,” says Gary M. Wingens, Chair and Managing Partner of the firm.  “The year’s challenges made us all more resilient, and more deeply appreciative of what we have and what we can give. I’m proud that we have been consistently able to demonstrate these core values across a wide range of pro bono efforts on behalf of many who otherwise might not have a voice.”

Catherine Weiss, partner and chair of the center, says: “After many months defined by COVID and other hardships, we finally saw evidence of positive change for some of the underrepresented and under-resourced communities for which we advocate. We are heartened by the progress we have seen in such initiatives as juvenile justice reform, eviction protection, and immigration, and look forward to continuing the fight on these and other fronts.”

Highlights of the firm’s 2021 pro bono work include:

  • Eliminating all monetary penalties associated with adjudications of juvenile delinquency in New Jersey
  • Securing a significant monetary settlement and policy changes on behalf of a transgender woman who was harassed and abused while confined with male prisoners
  • Winning asylum for an Indonesian Christian couple who faced persecution for their religious beliefs in their home country but can now remain safely and worship freely in the U.S.
  • Drafting and advocating for procedural reforms to enhance fairness in the landlord-tenant courts
  • Proposing and pressing for legislation that protects tenants from eviction based on COVID-related rental debt and allocates funding for rental assistance
  • Assisting more than 150 nonprofits with their various transactional legal needs, ultimately allowing them to provide essential services in their communities.

Access a digital version of the Lowenstein 2021 Pro Bono Report at this link. A PDF version is available here.

About the Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest
From its founding, Lowenstein Sandler has been committed to advancing the public interest and serving communities in need. The Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest embodies this commitment, directing the firm’s strong pro bono program and other forms of civic and philanthropic engagement. Through these efforts, the center addresses significant social problems and offers meaningful assistance to low-income and other marginalized people, along with the organizations that advocate for and support them. This work engages the full range of the firm’s talents and reflects the core values that imbue all of the firm’s efforts: to perform work of the highest quality in a manner that maximizes results for our clients and causes.

About Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Lowenstein Sandler LLP is a national law firm with more than 350 lawyers based in New York, Palo Alto, New Jersey, Utah, and Washington, D.C. The firm represents leaders in virtually every sector of the global economy, with particular emphasis on investment funds, life sciences, and technology. Recognized for its entrepreneurial spirit and high standard of client service, the firm is committed to the interests of its clients, colleagues, and communities.