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As summer turned to fall, Loeb’s pro bono efforts continued to grow through collaborations with clients and organizations dedicated to strengthening communities. Our teams supported foster youth, low-income artists, LGBTQIA+ individuals, refugees and tenants across the country, offering guidance on education, immigration, housing and health care.
Read on for a month-by-month look at these impactful initiatives.
August
Loeb and Amazon Partner with Alliance for Children’s Rights to Support a Foster Student’s Education Needs
Loeb teamed up with a firm client Amazon to support the Alliance for Children’s Rights (ACR) through a special education advocacy matter involving a child in second grade who is currently in foster care. Established in 1992, ACR protects the rights of children in poverty and those overcoming abuse and neglect by delivering free legal services, supportive programs and systemic solutions.
The collaboration followed a virtual training Loeb hosted with ACR on Aug. 20, which introduced volunteers to the education challenges foster youth often face due to trauma, abuse and neglect, and provided guidance on navigating the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process with school districts.
Following the training, the Loeb–Amazon team began work on the case, reviewing the child’s school records, assessing educational needs and initiating advocacy for appropriate services and accommodations through the IEP process. The matter is ongoing, with all work completed remotely and supported by ongoing mentorship from ACR.
Loeb’s pro bono team included partner Stephen Cohen and associates Mary Bassi, Rosie Schwarz and Lisa Wiznitzer.
September
Loeb and Kraft Heinz Lend a Hand to Low-Income Artists with Lawyers for the Creative Arts
Nine Loeb lawyers teamed up with 13 volunteers from firm client Kraft Heinz on Sept. 11 in Loeb’s Chicago office to provide pro bono legal assistance to low-income artists seeking guidance on reviewing contracts, distribution agreements, master services agreements and consulting contracts. The clinic was hosted by Lawyers for the Creative Arts, a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to connecting Illinois’ creative community with free legal services.
Following introductory remarks from Lawyers for the Creative Arts and a CLE training session by partner Brian Heidelberger, pro bono teams met with their clients for one-on-one consultations. Participants worked with a variety of creatives, including an author and playwright, a contemporary artist, a sculptor, an actress, a gospel musician, a choreographer and an emerging production company.
Loeb’s pro bono team was led by partner Brian Heidelberger and included partners Caroline Hudson, Ryan Martin, Doug Masters and Seth Rose and associates Valeria Alejandro, Mary Bassi, Jenny Savitt and Ali Schaller.
Loeb and Spotify Partner with Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts to Support Local Artists
17 Loeb lawyers joined 10 in-house counsel from Spotify—one of the firm’s clients—on Sept. 17 to provide pro bono legal assistance to 10 artists and arts organizations. The legal clinic, hosted by Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts (WALA)—a DC-based nonprofit that provides access to education, advocacy and legal services through workshops, seminars, clinics and pro bono referrals—was held at Loeb’s New York office. Clients participated virtually, along with other Loeb volunteers joining remotely from Washington, DC.
After a short orientation, volunteer teams prepared for their sessions before meeting individually with clients for one or two rounds of consultations. Participants included an artist collective, emerging filmmakers, a contact improvisation community organization, a multidisciplinary artist, a cellist, an aspiring podcaster and a freelance videographer, among others.
The Loeb pro bono team included partners Ken Adler, Tal Dickstein, Kristen Klesh, Anne Kennedy McGuire, Robyn Mohr; senior counsel Donna Mangold and Emily Rakowicz; and associates Christine Abiyou, Keane Barger, Brianna Cloud, Elena De Santis, Jess Jesselson, Ana Maganto Ramirez, Jacob Maslavi, Kate McGuigan, Sam Raffa and Lisa Wiznitzer.
Loeb Teams Up with ICLS to Help LGBTQIA+ Clients Document Health Care Preferences
On Sept. 25, Loeb hosted its seventh pro bono clinic dedicated to advance health care directives (AHCDs), partnering with Inland Counties Legal Services (ICLS)—a nonprofit providing free legal assistance to low-income residents in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The clinic offered essential guidance to five LGBTQIA+ individuals referred by ICLS, helping them protect their rights and ensure their wishes are honored in future medical decisions.
AHCDs give people the ability to document their health care preferences and designate a trusted decision-maker should they become unable to communicate those choices. For LGBTQIA+ clients, these directives play a particularly meaningful role by affirming gender identity and expression—such as preferred names and pronouns—and safeguarding the involvement of supportive individuals in times of need.
Throughout the clinic, teams of Loeb volunteers met one-on-one with each participant to explain the significance of AHCDs, discuss key considerations around gender identity and choice of health care agent, and assist in preparing and executing the formal documents.
Loeb’s pro bono team included partner Leah Bishop, Danielle Miller and Jessica Davis Mills; senior counsel Sasha Bass, Roshanne Katouzian, David Khanjyan and Michelle Raaka; and associates Christine Abiyou, Shauna Bendinelli and Lucas Gelfen.
October
Loeb, Morgan Stanley and Anomaly Join Forces to Support Refugees through HIAS
Sixteen Loeb lawyers and staff members partnered with 18 volunteers from firm clients Morgan Stanley and Anomaly on Oct. 9 to launch a pro bono clinic assisting refugees with adjustment of status applications—the process through which individuals apply for lawful permanent residency (a green card) in the U.S. The initiative will aid 15 refugees from Russia, Venezuela, Guatemala and Ecuador, all clients of HIAS, a Jewish humanitarian organization established in 1881 that supports refugees, asylum seekers and other displaced populations around the world.
The clinic began with a CLE training session led by HIAS, which provided guidance on navigating the adjustment of status process. Following the training, seven pro bono teams are advancing with the work, each volunteer dedicating approximately 10–15 hours over the coming months to complete the adjustment of status applications for their assigned clients.
The firm’s pro bono participants included partners Curt Bajak, Victor Chen, John Monterubio, Ronelle Porter, Megan Stombock and Alex Weniger-Araujo; of counsel Allison Cohen; senior counsel Sherry Li; associates Valeria Alejandro, Simona Papazian, Ashley Ravins, Evan Saunders, Rich Sta Lucia and Lexi Zobeideh; and paralegals Gina Rosales and Anisa Williams.
Loeb Volunteers Join Legal Services NYC for Eviction Prevention Remote Clinic
On Oct. 16, Loeb partnered with Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) to host an Eviction Prevention Remote Clinic. Founded in 1968, LSNYC fights poverty and advances racial, social and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers, helping clients meet essential needs such as housing, income security, family stability, immigration, education and health care.
Thousands of New Yorkers face the threat of eviction each year, often having to choose between paying rent and affording food or medical care. The clinic assists tenants in applying for emergency grants—known as “one-shot deals”—that can prevent eviction but are often difficult to access without legal guidance.
Following a virtual training and kick-off session, 16 Loeb volunteers conducted phone consultations with 5 pro bono clients to complete “one-shot deal” applications. Volunteers also helped gather and submit missing documentation, monitored case progress and provided LSNYC with updates and a summary of their work.
The firm's pro bono team included partners Michelle Albrecht, John Gatti and Brian Heidelberger; senior counsel Dimitry Krol, Tzipporah Rosenblatt and Dana Rosenthal; associates Camila Piedrahita Abello, Cecilia Denhard, Eryn Gordon, Norly Jean-Charles, Ryan Kashfian, Simona Papazian and Rich Sta Lucia; paralegals Shantanu Alam, Mariana Nielson and Steven Henry Reed.
Loeb Pro Bono Director Meredith Madnick Highlights Best Practices for Pro Bono Partnerships at IP/Entertainment Law CLE Conference in LA
At the firm’s 16th annual IP/Entertainment Law CLE Conference in Los Angeles on Oct. 23, Loeb’s Pro Bono Director Meredith Madnick spoke on a panel alongside Caroline Ryon, senior corporate counsel at Amazon MGM Studios. The session, held in conjunction with Pro Bono Week, focused on best practices for law firms and in-house legal teams partnering on pro bono initiatives.
Meredith and Caroline discussed the ethical considerations involved in pro bono work—such as duties of confidentiality, the variation in types of engagements, and the responsibilities lawyers owe to their clients—as well as the strategic factors that support effective collaboration. They also highlighted examples of successful joint pro bono matters handled by Loeb and Amazon, including asylum work completed with Kids in Need of Defense (KIND).