January 25, 2018: Two Retired Attorneys Honored With NYS Bar Association Jonathan Lippman Pro Bono Awards
1.25.2018
Joan Lia Levy of Sleepy Hollow, who retired as vice president and assistant general counsel at JPMorgan Chase, and Anthony Szczygiel, a law professor who retired from the University at Buffalo School of Law after 34 years, are the 2018 recipients of the Jonathan Lippman Pro Bono Award, presented by the Senior Lawyers Section of the New York State Bar Association.
Also this year, a Special Commendation of the Senior Lawyers Section 2018 Jonathan Lippman Pro Bono Award was given to Blaine “Finn” Fogg. Fogg is a long time Skadden, Arps partner who took on the volunteer role of president of the Legal Aid Society in New York City in 2009 and has served in that capacity ever since.
Lippman presented the awards to the honorees on January 25 during the Bar Association’s Annual Meeting in New York City. The award was created to recognize dedicated senior lawyers who have generously provided pro bono service in New York.
“These three recipients’ commitment to the cause of equal access to justice is an inspiration to all of us and personifies the qualities inherent in an award honoring former Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman,” said C. Bruce Lawrence of Rochester (Boylan Code), chair of the Senior Lawyers Section.”
Levy volunteers with the Pro Bono Partnership in White Plains, which provides free business legal services to nonprofit organizations serving the disadvantaged. Levy has volunteered at least one day a week at the Partnership since 2011. To date she has logged 1,000 volunteer hours, worth an estimated $420,000.
As a law professor at Buffalo, Szcygiel also served as clinical director for their elder law clinic in partnership with the Center for Elder Law & Justice. In retirement, Szcygiel has continued to help the Center by volunteering. He has donated numerous hours helping them grow their Long Term Care Ombudsmen Program. The program serves as an advocate and resource for those who live in nursing homes, adult homes and other licensed residential care facilities.
The awards are named after Jonathan Lippman, chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 2009 through 2015. He is currently of counsel at Latham & Watkins’ New York office, where he is a leader of its pro bono practice, with a focus on matters about access to justice.
About the New York State Bar Association
The New York State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. Since 1876, the Association has helped shape the development of law, educated and informed the legal profession and the public, and championed the rights of New Yorkers through advocacy and guidance in our communities.
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Contact: Christian Nolan
Senior Writer
518-487-5536