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Join The Legal Aid Society as we celebrate the 42nd Servant of Justice Awards Dinner. This year, we are proud to honor Michele A. Roberts and Jeffrey L. Kessler with The 2019 Servant of Justice Award for their lasting impact on our city’s legal community. Your support helps our Civil Practice make a difference in the lives of New Yorkers in need.

Richard J. Davis

Chair of the Board of Directors

Blaine V. (Fin) Fogg

President

Janet Sabel

Attorney-in-Chief and Chief Executive Officer

Questions?

Email Sharon Kleinhandler, Director of Development

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Vendors

Honorees

Michele A. Roberts

Executive Director
National Basketball Players Association

Michele Roberts is the first woman to head a major professional sports union in North America. In her role as Executive Director, Ms. Roberts serves as the primary advocate for all players, ensuring the protection of the organization and its membership, including serving as the lead negotiator in all collective bargaining activities. Prior to this selection, Ms. Roberts was a renowned trial lawyer and member of Skadden, Aprs, Slate, Meagher & Flom's Litigation Group.

Ms. Roberts is a frequent lecturer and presenter to both the bench and bar on a variety of topics related to litigation and trial practice.

Jeffrey L. Kessler

Executive Co-Chairman
Winston & Strawn LLP

Jeffrey L. Kessler focuses his practice on all aspects of antitrust/competition, sports law, intellectual property (IP), complex litigation, and government criminal and civil investigations. He has been lead counsel in some of the most complex antitrust, sports law, and intellectual property law cases in the country, including major jury trials, and has represented a number of U.S. and international companies in criminal and civil investigations in the antitrust, trade, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) areas. He successfully defended Matsushita and JVC against claims of a worldwide conspiracy in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Zenith v. Matsushita and is regarded as a leading commentator on international antitrust law. A significant portion of his sports law practice has been devoted to the protection of the economic and social justice rights of athletes and their communities.

Honorary Chair

Harvey Kurzweil
Winston & Strawn LLP

Our Supporters

Partners

Arnold & Porter LLP

Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP

Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady LLP

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP

Sidley Austin LLP

Counsels

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

Allen & Overy LLP

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

Cooley LLP

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

Goodwin Procter LLP

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

Jeffrey L. Kessler, Esq.

Mayer Brown

National Basketball Association

National Basketball Players Association

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Reed Smith LLP

Ropes & Gray LLP

Travelers

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP

Advocates

Berg & Androphy

DLA Piper LLP (US)

Dechert LLP

Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP

Gibson, Dunn Crutcher LLP

Goldin Associates, LLC

Jones Day

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

Luskin, Stern & Eisler LLP

Mastercard

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello PC

The NFL Players Association

Pearson, Simon & Warshaw, LLP

Pfizer, Inc.

Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP

Viacom, Inc.

Willis Towers Watson

Friends

Bank of America

Kerri and Richard Bartlett

Alvin Bragg

Rocco B. Commisso

Nan and Rich Davis

Deutsche Bank AG

EisnerAmper

JP Morgan

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP

KLS Professional Advisors Group LLC

Harvey Kurzweil

Hunton Andrews Kurth

McCarter & English LLP

Tom Melsheimer

Mintz & Gold

Sarah Moss and Michael Gould

Panasonic Corp of America

Rennaissance Associates Ltd.

Elizabeth and Robert Sheehan

Dan Webb

Vendor's Council

2k Sports

Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc.

CBRE

Chubb Limited

Edgeworth Economics

GFP Real Estate

Oxford Health Plans, LLC

Panini America

UnitedHealthcare

About Us

The Legal Aid Society exists for one simple yet powerful reason: to ensure that no New Yorker is denied their right to equal justice because of poverty. For over 140 years, we have protected, defended, and advocated for those that have struggled in silence for far too long – working on the frontlines and behind-the-scenes to offer our clients the exceptional legal services they deserve. Through our Civil, Criminal Defense, and Juvenile Rights Practices, we provide an unmatched depth and breadth of expertise to vulnerable New Yorkers, no matter what challenges they may face.

Justice In Every Borough

Our country was built on the principle of equal justice under law. Unfortunately, this system often favors those with power and privilege – leaving millions of families and individuals, trapped by unfair and indifferent policies and practices, to fend for themselves. Thankfully, The Legal Aid Society stands for these New Yorkers. As the largest social justice law firm in the country, we are proud advocates for those who have struggled in silence for far too long. We go beyond any one case to tackle some of the most damaging inequities of our social welfare and justice systems.

Last Year's Photos

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A Message from Joe Biden

During the 41st Annual Awards Dinner, guests were treated to a special video message from Vice President Joe Biden. In his remarks, Mr. Biden applauded the staff and partners of The Legal Aid Society for their commitment to the pursuit of equal access to justice.

Watch Last Year's Video

Location

Cipriani 42nd Street
110 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017