The Legal Aid Society recognized several Milbank LLP attorneys for their pro bono contributions at the 2024 Pro Bono Publico Awards Ceremony on October 21.
A Milbank team comprising partners Grant Mainland and Robert Hora and associates Joseph Kammerman, Benjamin Brindis, Nicholas Fallah, Mike Frieda and Sharvari Kothawade was honored for its work as co-counsel with The Legal Aid Society on a rent overcharge case involving a class of tenants living in a building in Queens since 2018. Since the case was brought, the team has battled through a motion to dismiss, a motion to renew, and an appeal. After a long-fought battle the court ordered discovery, and the team survived two motions to reconsider. Since 2018 the law on overcharges has shifted because of both statutory changes and judicial rulings. The Milbank team is deep in the deposition phase and has been “relentless on behalf of The Legal Aid Society’s clients.”
Milbank pro bono counsel Anthony Perez Cassino also was recognized for “his extraordinary contributions as a volunteer attorney, his constant support of The Legal Aid Society and its clients and as a leader of Milbank’s legendary pro bono program for over 25 years. Under Tony’s stewardship, the attorneys and professional staff at Milbank have taken on matters that have made a significant and lasting impact on not only our clients but on thousands of New Yorkers in every borough.”
A longtime supporter of The Legal Aid Society, Milbank has an enduring commitment to public service. In 2023 the firm topped 54,000 pro bono hours globally and handled 700 active cases. Milbank is ranked 10th for breadth of commitment – based on the percentage of lawyers with more than 20 hours of pro bono service – in The American Lawyer Pro Bono Scorecard.
