Office Happenings — Support of Outside Organizations and Groups

Jeff Trachtman Named to 2019 Pride Power 100. Congratulations to Litigation partner Jeff Trachtman on being named to City & State NY’s 2019 Pride Power 100 list! Jeff was recognized for a commitment to LGBTQ rights that stretches over three decades and includes his involvement in the fight for same-sex marriage and equal rights for transgender students. The Pride Power 100 recognizes the most powerful members of New York’s LGBTQ community.

 
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“Divorcing With Consumer Debt” Clinic. In partnership with Her Justice’s Marital Debt Project, lawyers in our New York office provided limited legal services to low-income victims of domestic violence who would benefit from litigating a divorce, but can’t afford legal representation. The clinic was the project of Kramer Levin’s Equal Justice Works fellow, Naomi Young. Teams of attorneys and summer associates received training on consumer debt and how to prepare statements of net worth, which are sworn statements filed with the court containing a description of income, expenses, assets and liabilities. Volunteers then met with clients, interviewed them about their finances and helped them prepare a statement of net worth. After the clinic, the clients were empowered and in a better position to file or respond to divorce papers. 

“Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias: Practice Pointers for Pro Bono Advocacy.” Kramer Levin welcomed back former associate Kurt Denk and Ramona Morel from the City Bar Justice Center for a presentation to our lawyers on May 3 titled “Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias: Practice Pointers for Pro Bono Advocacy.” Kurt and Ramona presented a conceptual framework and concrete skills toolkit intended to enhance attorney competence in pro bono advocacy, with particular attention to diversity, inclusion and the disruption of implicit biases when working with economically disadvantaged clients.

Summer Associates Feed the Homeless With YSOP. Kramer Levin’s summer associates had the opportunity to spend time helping others in June. Through the help of YSOP (Youth Services Opportunity Project), a nonprofit that helps organize youth and young adults for volunteer service opportunities in New York City and Washington, D.C., the summer associates cooked meals for the homeless and played board games with them.

Asian American Bar Association of New York Annual Dinner. Kramer Levin was a sponsor and several of our attorneys attended the annual AABANY Annual Dinner on Feb. 27 at Cipriani Wall Street.

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund Support. Kramer Levin supported the AALDEF’s 45th Anniversary Celebration at Pier Sixty on March 27, and several of our attorneys attended the annual summer cocktail event on June 25.

Harlem RBI – A League of Our Own Sponsorship. Kramer Levin was a sponsor, and several of the firm’s attorneys attended the annual event on March 14. A League of Our Own is an inspiring evening to celebrate young women and their remarkable accomplishments and to let them know that the sky is the limit for their power and potential.

Upcoming Events

Mary Abbajay, author of the bestselling book Managing Up: How to Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss and president of Careerstone Group LLC, will be conducting Generations in the Workplace training in the fall.