Videos

Matthew R. Hintz: It shows our commitment to the values and ideals that we have been talking about for years. It's baked into our firm's Core Values, and we mean it when we say that we have these Core Values, and we're sticking with them throughout whatever changes are out there.

Parimal Garg: Client-First Always.

Yelky Perez: Boldly Innovative.

Markiana J. Julceus: Purposefully Connected.

David Cassidy: Generous by Nature.

Jeffrey M. Shapiro: It's something that I know has been held in high regard at this firm for decades, and I know it started with Alan Lowenstein. It was part of the ethos of the firm that I joined, and I discovered that supporting the community was very highly regarded and valued, and so everybody is encouraged to find, for them, opportunities to be helpful in the community, take part in the community, and for me, it's defined opportunities to further the mission of nonprofits that are helping those in need.

Nigeria S. Parrot: If Mr. Lowenstein was alive, he would definitely say it's the DNA of the firm. That was his life's compassion, pro bono. I was fortunate enough to actually work with him while he was here, so I believe that it's very important that we do, and so it's very ingrained. It's the DNA of the firm, I feel.

Daniel A. Suckerman: It's been a foundation of Lowenstein. The Center for Public Interest has been around for decades, and--folks that have long, successful careers here--realize that that's the sort of group they want to be a part of, that they embody these Core Values, and it's inseparable from who we are and the communities we serve.

Laura Cicirelli: I think that a lot of law firms talk the talk but don't walk the walk, and so here, we really push pro bono work, but we support it in every way. We really push it internally and make sure that people are supported and get that work, and we recognize it just the same way as billable work.

Markiana J. Julceus: We truly are very purposefully connected with these people and leverage those relationships to make meaningful impact, because those people have the subject matter knowledge and we have the resources; both the attorney resources, the manpower to actually do the work, and like the money to fund it.

Gary M. Wingens: Over time, our philosophy and strategy on pro bono was that if the phone rang, we would answer it. And if there was a pro client, and we had lawyers here who were willing to do the work that the client needed, we would do it.

Parimal Garg: We really do treat our pro bono clients the same way as our billable clients, and ultimately that's experience that's transferable too, like when you're talking about client management. The skills that you utilize in your billable work, you can utilize in your pro bono work and vice versa. At the end of the day, all these cases are a lawyer advocating for a client, and doing everything they can in order to advance that client’s position.

Çagla Yetis: I think the effort that all of the attorneys involved, and all of the staff involved in these matters are, they go out of their way to take time out to meet with clients, all the way from our paralegals to very senior partners. They always make time to address all questions. They want to help them and their needs and put them first.

Yelky Perez: Pro Bono work also requires us to be purposely connected, because a lot of times we have to work with different organizations and their communities, and bring them all together to come up with creative solutions to problems at hand.

Daniel A. Suckerman: The Core Values are important because it develops the culture of the firm, and the culture of the firm is the people of the firm; the people of the firm is our success. It's all wrapped up together. We can't just change because we wouldn't be successful anymore. I mean, we have embodied this culture since the founding of the firm, and it's essential to our continued success.

Jonathan C. Wishnia: When we receive awards like the Bloomberg Law Pro Bono Innovator Award for multiple teams making an impact across the housing sector locally and nationally, that’s not just good Lowenstein citizenship--it’s talent development, brand building, relationship creating, and community changing, and most importantly, it’s honoring Alan Lowenstein’s legacy. 

David Cassidy: Everything I've engaged in through our pro bono work, through the Center for the Public Interest, has been client-focused. The most meaningful moments I've had at the firm have been, for instance, an individual who's currently in immigration detention, who told us being able to speak with us was the first time in weeks they didn't feel suicidal. That's really easy time to give. To speak with the parents of a young transgender boy at this moment, and just be able to say, “We're on your side, and we understand.” That's really easy time to give, and that's the kind of generosity that just embodies not just the Center for the Public Interest, but Lowenstein as a whole.

Gary M. Wingens: I'm enormously gratified to see how our whole firm comes together to get involved in community activities--whether it's technically pro bono legal work, or support for that legal work, it doesn't matter. It is doing really good for the communities in which we practice. If Alan Lowenstein were here to see that, he would be incredibly proud of the firm that we have become and how we encourage pro bono service to permeate the culture of this firm.