3/09/12
Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom honored Rita Lin with its 2012 Legal Service Award in recognition of her vital work to advance the rights of the LGBT community, including representation of Karen Golinski.

1/02/12
The National Law Journal named Morrison & Foerster a recipient of its annual Pro Bono Awards for its display of exemplary commitment to access to justice. San Diego attorney Drew Woodmansee was profiled for his advocacy and litigation work that led to the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell on September 30, 2011. Beginning in 2009, a Morrison & Foerster pro bono team has represented four gay servicemembers who served their country with distinction but were dismissed, or were poised to be dismissed, under Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

12/13/11
Casa Cornelia honored Morrison & Foerster with its La Mancha Law Firm of the Year Award for its extraordinary level of pro bono legal services to indigent immigrant victims of human and civil rights violations. Casa Cornelia stated that this "extraordinary level of commitment is only possible when a firm's leadership encourages and facilitates pro bono service among its partners and associates."

12/09/11
Disability Rights California (DRC) honored Morrison & Foerster for its considerable and critical contributions to the Darling v. Douglas lawsuit challenging cutbacks to Medi-Cal funded Adult Day Health Care (ADHC). DRC commended Palo Alto litigators Ken Kuwayti and Stefan Szpajda for their strategic and successful efforts to stop the elimination of ADHC as well as Los Angeles litigators Ben Fox and Shirley Hufstedler for their compelling appellate efforts in the Ninth Circuit.

11/22/11
The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) honored the firm with its 2011 Beacon of Justice Award for its significant contribution to pro bono appellate representation. NLADA was moved by Morrison & Foerster's true commitment to justice by stepping up to represent issues and people that would otherwise be forced to navigate the appeals process without any guidance.

11/03/11
The Pro Bono Institute (PBI) selected Morrison & Foerster as the recipient for the John H. Pickering Award for its unwavering commitment to pro bono, noting that the firm billed over 95,000 pro bono hours in 2010. PBI highlighted the firm's recent pro bono victories including a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court regarding protecting juveniles from life sentences without parole in non-homicide offenses as well as securing the release of a man wrongly imprisoned for 20 years.

10/26/11
Gordon Erspamer has been honored by American Lawyer with a Lifetime Achiever Award. Mr. Erspamer is one of only eight attorneys to receive the award this year, which honors outstanding private sector success and a devotion to public service. According to Am Law, the 2011 Lifetime Achiever recipients "are extraordinary lawyers, certainly, but for them, that's just the beginning of what makes them successful." Gordy's profile highlights his pro bono accomplishments on behalf of U.S. veterans that have spanned more than three decades, making him "a legend in military circles." The special section is published in the September 2011 issue of American Lawyer.

10/05/11
Tokyo attorney Jack Londen was named as one of the recipients of the Brinsley Award by the Western Center on Law & Poverty (WCLP). Named in honor of former WCLP Board Chair John Brinsley, the award celebrates the heart of Western Center which is passionate service, leadership and extraordinary commitment to pro bono services and the community.

7/18/11
Morrison & Foerster is named to the Law 360 Pro Bono Firms of 2011 list. The list recognizes the top ten pro bono firms in the country, based on a record of pro bono victories, a willingness to tackle tough pro bono cases, and an overall outstanding commitment to pro bono work. In particular, Law 360 recognizes the firm's impact in juvenile justice, education rights, and advocacy for people with disabilities.

6/16/11
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California awarded its 2011 Social Justice Award to Sean Gates and his team for their extraordinary work in Reed v. State of California to protect the equal education rights of students affected by teacher layoffs in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The award is to be presented at the ACLU's 17th Annual Law Luncheon in Los Angeles.

6/15/11
Public Counsel gave its 2011 Pro Bono Award to Los Angeles attorneys Sean Gates, Hailly Korman, Dale Larson, and Miriam Vogel and Tokyo attorney Jack Londen for devoting eight months to negotiating and protecting a resolution in Reed v. State of California. The result is a landmark defense of student's fundamental right to equal educational opportunity that protects at least 75,000 students annually in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

4/15/11
The American Bar Association Section of Litigation awarded its top pro bono honor, the 2011 John Minor Wisdom Public Interest and Professionalism Award to the firm on behalf of its work on educational reform for low-income children and children with disabilities.

4/11/11
The AIDS Legal Referral Panel recognized the firm with a certificate of appreciation for our generous participation in the Pro Bono Connections Initiative with ALRP.

2/15/11
Los Angeles attorney Sean Gates has been named the recipient of a 2011 California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year (CLAY) Award in the public interest law category for achieving an innovative class action settlement in Reed v. State of California, to protect the equal education rights of students who are affected by teacher layoffs. The settlement goes far beyond the three public schools attended by the initial plaintiffs, to protect up to 45 schools. As a result, the Los Angeles Unified School District must consider equal protection implications as well as teacher seniority in making layoff decisions.

12/06/10
Morrison & Foerster is named to the Law 360 Pro Bono Firms of 2010 list. The list recognizes the top ten pro bono firms in the country, based on a record of pro bono victories, a willingness to tackle tough pro bono cases, and an overall outstanding commitment to pro bono work. In particular, Law 360 recognizes the firm's impact in juvenile justice, education rights, and advocacy for people with disabilities.

10/06/10
The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) honored the firm with its 2010 Beacon of Justice Award for its significant contribution to pro bono representation in the area of immigration law. NLADA was moved by the investment of time and legal representation the firm provided on a variety of immigration matters to protect vulnerable clients, including the El Balazo immigration raids case and the Guzman deportation case, two major lawsuits brought by litigators from the San Francisco office to ensure that the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services follows lawful procedures.

9/24/10
The State Bar of California gave the President's Pro Bono Service Award to Kimberly Van Voorhis, Richard Ballinger and Marc Peters for their representation of the California State Foster Parent Association in an action in the U.S. District Court for Northern California by California foster parents to increase the state's reimbursement rates for providing basic necessities to federally qualified foster children.

6/25/2010
The Federal Circuit Bar Association recognized the firm at the Broadmoor Bench and Bar Conference for its support of the general, government and veterans pro bono programs.

6/10/2010
The American Civil Liberties Union of Los Angeles (ACLU) honored Jim Brosnahan, Raj Chatterjee, Sam Lunier and the firm with its Courageous Advocacy Award. The award acknowledged the firm's representation and favorable settlement on behalf of a U.S.-born citizen with cognitive limitations who was wrongfully deported by the Department of Homeland Security to Mexico, where he wandered alone in the streets for over 80 days until he was discovered and returned to his family.

5/10/2010
The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights honored Jeremy McLaughlin, John Kolakowski, Vanessa Waldref and Robert Salerno with its Outstanding Achievement Award for their work ensuring access for people with disabilities in the Johnny Rockets chain.

5/3/2010
The Colorado Lawyers Committee presented the Denver office with its Law Firm of the Year Award. Steve Kaufmann, who has won Lawyers Committee awards for individual and sustained contributions in the past, accepted the award on behalf of the firm.

4/21/2010
The AIDS Legal Referral Panel recognized the firm with a certificate of appreciation for our generous participation in the Pro Bono Connections Initiative with ALRP.

4/10/2010
The Animal Legal Defense Fund gave the firm the Animal Law Achievement Award for helping the organization further its mission to protect the interests of animals through the legal system.

3/23/2010
The Volunteer Legal Services Program of the Bar Association of San Francisco presented Kathryn Davis and Sandra Nazzal with its Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service Award.

3/2010
California Lawyer magazine has named 44 attorneys around the state to receive the 14th annual California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year Awards. Kevin A. Calia and Gordon P. Erspamer are being honored with the Public-Law Interest award for their extensive work for veterans' rights.

3/11/2010
Morrison & Foerster was honored at the 2010 Northern California Innocence Project's third annual awards dinner with the Pro Bono Award for the hundreds of pro bono hours and generous contribution of resources to NCIP cases.

2/9/2010
Kathi Pugh was honored by the Bay Area Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society for her extensive work in the community as well as her continued work for disability rights.

11/2009
The firm was awarded the Open Palm Award from Dolores Street Community Services for our work on the El Balazo immigration raids cases.

10/26/2009
The Legal Aid Society of New York gave its 2009 Pro Bono Publico Awards to Mark Ladner, Edward Blatnik, Shiri Wolf, Michael Gerard, Emily Hunters, and Stacy Kaplan for their outstanding pro bono services to the Legal Aid Society.

10/23/2009
Jim Brosnahan is the recipient of the Minority Bar Coalition's 2009 Champion of Unity Award for his work in promoting diversity and equality in the legal profession.

10/14/2009
The AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP) honored Larry Katzin with its Clint Hockenberry Leadership Award for his many years of outstanding service to ALRP.

10/6/2009
Volunteers of Legal Service in New York honored Morrison & Foerster for meeting the VOLS Pro Bono Pledge, with pro bono work in the New York office averaging over 30 hours per lawyer in 2008.

8/3/2009
Gordon Erspamer was presented with one of the 2009 ABA Pro Bono Publico Awards by the ABA standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service. The Pro Bono Publico Awards program seeks to identify and honor individual lawyers and small and large law firms, government attorney offices, corporate law departments, and other institutions in the legal profession that have enhanced the human dignity of others by improving or delivering volunteer legal services.

7/16/2009
The Public Interest Clearinghouse (PIC) recognized Jack Londen at its 30th Anniversary Celebration for his outstanding service to PIC, and for expanding access to justice on a statewide and national level. PIC further honored him by announcing the Jack Londen Public Service Award, to be given annually to an outstanding attorney in the private sector who is striving to follow Jack's example of community service, pro bono efforts, and support of the legal services community in California.

7/11/2009
The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association presented Linda Arnsbarger with its Corporate & Pro Bono Service Excellence Award for her years of providing tax advice to nonprofit organizations.

6/29/2009
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California (ACLU) presented its Education Advocacy Award to MoFo partners Jack Londen, Matthew Kreeger, and Terri Garland for their work on the financing of public education in California.

6/18/2009
Linda Arnsbarger and Seth Galanter received the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes' "Rock the Law Award for Outstanding Achievement for Pro Bono Causes." This award, presented by the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes (JFGH), recognizes the excellence of several distinguished Washington area lawyers for their generosity in contributing pro bono representation for people with disabilities.

6/10/2009
Legal Services for Children (LSC) in San Francisco honored the firm for its extraordinary commitment to Bay Area children by enthusiastically encouraging and supporting pro bono service with LSC among our attorneys.

5/19/2009
The Colorado Lawyers Committee gave firmwide litigation chair Steven Kaufmann its 2009 Outstanding Contribution Award at its annual meeting for his ongoing support and active participation in the organization's pro bono activities.

5/7/2009
The San Francisco Aids Foundation (SFAF) honored Keith Wetmore for his tireless efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS at its 22nd Annual 2009 Leadership Recognition Dinner. SFAF recognized the firm's efforts in partnering with the Foundation to promote public health to reduce new HIV infections and ensure care for those living in San Francisco with HIV/AIDS.

4/30/2009
The AIDS Legal Referral Panel recognized the firm with a certificate of appreciation for our generous participation in the Pro Bono Connections Initiative with ALRP.

3/26/2009
The Volunteer Legal Services Program of the Bar Association of San Francisco presented the firm with its Outstanding Law Firm in Public Service Award for the firm's unwavering support of pro bono in the Bay Area.

3/26/2009
The Volunteer Legal Services Program of the Bar Association of San Francisco honored Dick Kinyon, Kate Ferrier and Sandra Nazzal with its Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service Award.

3/24/2009
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit awarded the firm with its Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of its outstanding contributions of time and legal expertise in support of its pro bono program.

3/19/2009
Bay Area Legal Aid recognized San Francisco attorneys Becky Kruse and Evi Schueller for their pro bono work on the fake legal aid matter and the firm's support of the 2008 Partners in Justice Campaign.

12/2008
California Lawyer magazine presented San Francisco attorneys James Schurz, Parisa Jorjani, Oliver Dunlap and Mathew dos Santos with Angel Awards, which recognize those attorneys who demonstrate a deep commitment to pro bono.

10/23/2008
The Casa Cornelia Law Center - an organization that aids immigrants who are abused, abandoned, or seeking asylum - presented the firm's San Diego office with its La Mancha Award in recognition of 1,300 hours of pro bono work assisting indigent clients.

9/26/2008
The State Bar of California gave the President's Pro Bono Service Award to Los Angeles attorneys Mark Gillett and Teri Stein for their work on behalf of a HIV+ transgendered Mexican woman refugee.

9/15/2008
The Anti Defamation League awarded James Brosnahan with its Distinguished Jurisprudence Award given to an outstanding Bay Area legal professional who exhibits a commitment to equality, justice, fairness, and community service.

6/26/2008
The Washington DC Bar presented its Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year award to Seth Galanter in recognition of his outstanding pro bono work and unwavering commitment to children with disabilities, blind vendors, prisoners and other civil rights plaintiffs on novel and complex legal issues.

6/11/2008
The National Legal Aid & Defender Association honored the firm with its Beacon of Justice Award because of our long-term pro bono commitment to persons on death row including two recent cases taken by Charles Patterson in Los Angeles that were referred by the ABA Death Penalty Representation Project.

4/3/2008
Legal Services for Children presented the firm with a Children's Legal Advocacy Award, in recognition of its extraordinary cumulative dedication to disadvantaged children and youth in the Bay Area. Rachael Clarke also received an Advocacy Award for her representation of a 17-year-old Guatemalan boy.

4/1/2008
The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo named Chris Jeu its Pro Bono Honoree for his efforts in obtaining a permanent guardianship of a five-year-old girl and suspending the parental rights of her neglectful father.

3/21/2008
The AIDS Legal Referral Panel honored the firm with its first annual Benita Juarez Human Rights Award For Outstanding Service to the LGBT & PLWHA Immigrant Community.

3/19/2008
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law recognized the firm for its assistance with the United Nations periodic review of the U.S. implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, noting the firm's steadfast commitment to justice for the advancement of democracy and civil rights of all racial minorities.

2/6/2008
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest honored partner Gabriel Meister and associate Madhavi Batliboi for their work done on a pro bono matter through the Pro Bono Clearinghouse.

1/19/2008
The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty presented the firm with its annual Legal Service Award in recognition of the pro bono work the firm has done around the issue of the death penalty.