Hughes Hubbard Receives Legal Aid Society's Pro Bono Publico Award

Hughes Hubbard and several firm lawyers received the 2016  Pro Bono Publico Award for providing exceptional legal services to the Legal Aid Society and its low-income clients.
 
On Oct. 26, 2016, the firm and five of its attorneys, along with three recent alums, were honored at the Legal Aid Society's annual awards ceremony for helping clients win exoneration of a wrongful conviction, secure affordable housing and obtain tax relief.
 
The ceremony was held at The Prince George Ballroom in Manhattan. New York Court of Appeals Chief Judge Janet DiFiore presided over the event and presented the awards.
 
Fara Tabatabai and Margot Warhit, along with HHR alums Joseph Lee and John Lyons, were recognized for their efforts in preserving affordable housing and the right to shelter.
 
They partnered with Legal Aid Society in December 2015 to bring an action in New York Supreme Court on behalf of families on public assistance with minor children challenging the adequacy of New York state's housing subsidies, which the state has not increased since 2004 despite significantly increased rent levels in New York City.
 
HHR alum Lisa Cahill was recognized for helping secure exoneration for Vanessa Gathers, a 58-year-old woman who spent 10 years in prison after being framed by a rogue detective for the 1991 killing of a 71-year-old man. Her 1998 manslaughter conviction was vacated following two-and-a-half years of exhaustive legal and investigative efforts by HHR and Legal Aid.
 
Justin Cohen was honored for working with Legal Aid's Low Income Tax Clinic to assist in resolution of a client's cumulative tax debt of over $130,000 for a total payment of $125. Cohen, who began working with the client in May 2015, continues to assist the client in obtaining withdrawal of his tax liens.