February 9, 2011
Willkie receives inMotion’s "2011 Commitment to Justice Award for Outstanding Firm" and a special "Legal Team Award."
At a gala awards ceremony on February 8 at New York City's Lincoln Center, Willkie received the "2011 Commitment to Justice Award for Outstanding Firm" by inMotion, a New York City non-profit organization that provides pro bono legal services for indigent women and children. At this standing-room only event, the firm was honored for its extraordinary service to the organization over the past year. The award was accepted by Business Reorganization and Restructuring Co-Chair Matthew Feldman, who currently serves on inMotion's Board of Directors.
Outstanding Law Firm Award 2011
Willkie was honored for the firm's "extraordinary commitment to pro bono work and inMotion's mission" to provide free legal services to low-income women and their children, primarily in the areas of matrimonial, family and immigration law. Since inMotion's founding in 1993, Willkie has been a Corporate Partner and pro bono and financial supporter of the organization. Since the establishment of the firm's externship at inMotion in 2008, Willkie attorneys have worked full time at inMotion's offices, handling a regular caseload of between 20 and 25 complex cases, often providing immediate in-court representation to women in emergency situations.
Legal Team Award
Additionally, Willkie partner Kelly Hnatt and associates Nina DiSalvo, Jennifer Endzweig, Jill Grant and Laura Greenberg were presented with a "Legal Team Award" for their exceptional representation of a 49-year-old indigent woman who suffered years of psychological, emotional and verbal abuse and infidelity by her husband. The Willkie team secured her a divorce on the grounds of cruel and inhuman treatment, the right to receive maintenance despite her husband's low income, a fair share of her husband's pension benefits and retirement account, and additional funds to help pay for the debt incurred during the marriage -- enabling the client to move forward with her life with greater financial security.
From left to right: Matthew Feldman, Nina DiSalvo, Jill Grant, Laura Greenberg, Jennifer Endzweig, Kelly Hnatt, Michael Schachter and Myron Trepper
From left to right: Myron Trepper, Catherine Douglass (President, InMotion) and Matthew Feldman