Akin Gump, Dewey & LeBoeuf, Disasters / Emergencies, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, Hogan & Hartson, Sonnenschein, Venable

Update: More Law Firms Help Out Haiti

By  
on

On Wednesday, we commended the firm of Paul Hastings for moving so quickly to support Haiti earthquake relief efforts. Since then, a number of other top law firms have pledged their support to this worthy cause.
(Okay, Rush Limbaugh questions the worthiness of the cause. But we suspect that Limbaugh’s position — like that of Pat Robertson, who blames the earthquake on Haiti’s supposed pact with the devil — is a minority view.)
The WSJ Law Blog and Am Law Daily have gathered information about what various law firms are doing to help Haiti. We’ve combined their reports with information we’ve received from our own sources, to create a more comprehensive list.
Check it out, after the jump.


Here are some law firms that have made efforts to support earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. As you can see, their contributions vary wildly. We will refrain from snarking on the more modest efforts; when faced with a disaster of this magnitude, every little bit counts.
This will probably be our final round-up of law firms supporting Haiti relief. If we missed your law firm, please note it IN THE COMMENTS. Thanks.

  • Akin Gump: “Akin Gump is making a $50,000 donation — $25,000 to the American Red Cross and $25,000 to Mercy Corps. In addition, the firm will match donations from lawyers and staff up to $50,000.” [WSJ Law Blog]
  • Cooley Godward: Cooley attorneys and staff will make a minimum aggregate donation of $50,000 to the American Red Cross International Relief Fund through a firm wide matching program. [memo sent to ATL]
  • Dewey & LeBoeuf: “[T]he firm will be making donations totaling $100,000 to the American Red Cross, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and an orphanage called Center of Hope (Haiti). In [a firm-wide] memo, [chairman Steven] Davis also encouraged staffers and lawyers to make individual donations through the firm by next Wednesday. [Am Law Daily]
  • DLA Piper: Sponsoring “denim days” in various offices. Employees who contribute at least $5 to relief efforts can wear jeans. Lawyers and staff can make contributions through direct payroll deductions. [Am Law Daily]
  • Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge: The firm is matching up to $100,000 in donations being made by attorneys and staff to charities who are providing direct assistance to Haiti. [memo sent to ATL]
  • Hogan & Hartson: “The firm will match contributions made by all firm personnel to the American Red Cross Haiti earthquake relief effort up to $100,000.” [WSJ Law Blog]
  • Holland & Knight: The firm is sponsoring a “casual for a cause” day today, and matching the first $100,000 of individual employee and partner contributions. [Am Law Daily]
  • Hughes Hubbard & Reed: The firm has set up a donation page at the UNICEF website for its lawyers and staff, and it will also be making a donation to UNICEF. In addition, it will collect nonperishable food and baby items to donate to UNICEF partner Food for the Poor. [Am Law Daily]
  • Kirkland & Ellis: “The Kirkland & Ellis LLP Foundation, its individual attorneys and staff have contributed an initial $100,000 to help recovery efforts related to [the Haiti earthquake]…. Kirkland’s contributions will benefit the American Red Cross and an orphanage in Haiti called Grace House of Hope for Girls. The Kirkland & Ellis Foundation donated the initial funds. Attorneys and staff will supplement that donation with additional, individual contributions.” [K&E press release]
  • Latham & Watkins: “Latham & Watkins will match contributions made by firm personnel to any of the following relief organizations: Red Cross, Haiti Relief and Development Fund, Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health, CARE, and World Vision. The firm will match all contributions up to a combined total of $200,000.” [WSJ Law Blog]
  • Morgan Lewis: Morgan Lewis Thursday told employees that the firm would match their contributions to the American Red Cross up to $100,000. [WSJ Law Blog]
  • Morrison & Foerster: “The Morrison & Foerster Foundation has launched a matching program for donations made by Morrison & Foerster attorneys and staff to support charitable relief efforts in Haiti. The Foundation will match donations in support of Haiti earthquake relief up to a combined total of $10,000.” [WSJ Law Blog]
  • Paul Hastings: The firm is donating $100,000 to earthquake relief. [prior ATL post]
  • Paul Weiss: “The firm will match, up to a total of $1,000 per person, the donations of all of our counsel, associates and support staff to any of the following organizations: American Red Cross, AmeriCares, CARE, Doctors without Borders, International Rescue Committee, Oxfam America, and US Fund for UNICEF, as well as other recognized organizations preferred by the donor.” [memo sent to ATL]
  • Reed Smith: “In support of Haitian relief efforts, Reed Smith will make a $50,000 contribution, in increments of $10,000, to each of 5 international Relief organizations. The Firm will also implement a matching program to supplement your individual generosity, and match, up to a cumulative cap of $25,000 all Reed Smith partner or employee contribution made in January to one of [several designated organizations].” [memo sent to ATL]
  • Skadden Arps: “Skadden will make an ‘aggregate donation’ of $100,000 to organizations providing relief in Haiti. The donation will be comprised partly of an initial contribution to relief organizations, and an additional fund under which the firm will match individual employee contributions of up to $500.” [WSJ Law Blog]
  • Sonnenschein: “Anyone who wants to wear jeans to work on Friday must pay $5 to the Rural Haiti Project.” [WSJ Law Blog]
  • Steptoe & Johnson: “In observance of the upcoming Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, the Firm will be observing Casual for a Cause day tomorrow (Friday, January 15th)…. We invite you to wear jeans this Friday by making a donation in support of the Haitian disaster relief efforts. We suggest a donation of $5…. You can give more if you like, and less if you have to, but a donation must be made in order to wear jeans.” In addition, the firm is matching contributions in the amount of up to $100 per person. [memo sent to ATL]
  • Venable: “The Venable Foundation is donating approximately $30,000 to the relief effort and is encouraging individual donations from attorneys and staff.” [WSJ Law Blog]
  • Weil Gotshal: “Weil Gotshal announced Thursday that it will immediately make a contribution of $100,000, spread among three organizations with which the firm has an ongoing relationship – American Red Cross, Save the Children and Oxfam. In addition, Weil is doing an internal fundraising drive and expects that overall contributions will be over $200,000.” [WSJ Law Blog]

We salute these firms for their generosity and their rapid responses to a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions. If you’re aware of a firm that has also contributed to the relief effort and is not mentioned above, please note it IN THE COMMENTS. Thanks.
BigLaw Stepping Up on Haiti Aid [WSJ Law Blog]
Am Law Firms Join Haiti Relief Effort [Am Law Daily]
Earlier: Paul Hastings Helps Out Haitians
U.S. Temporarily Halts Haitian Deportations

Sponsored

Topics