A partner at Dewey & LeBoeuf and a legal services organization were among 17 recipients of the New York City Neighborhood Achievement Awards Tuesday. Established in 2002, the awards recognize efforts that foster economic opportunity in the city's neighborhoods.
Stuart Saft, head of the global real estate practice at Dewey & LeBoeuf received The Service Award. Mr. Saft served for a decade as the chairman of the New York City Workplace Investment Board, "seeing the city through its darkest days after September 11, 2001," according to the award's sponsors. Under his leadership, the number of workplace career centers grew to 10 from three and the number of New Yorkers placed in jobs each year to 25,000 from 500.
The Volunteers of Legal Services received The Partnership Award. The organization, which is directed by William J. Dean, recruits top law firms and matches them with non-profit organizations and development agencies to serve the business community. Its Microenterprise Project provides pro bono services to small businesses and entrepreneurs, helping them to structure their operations, review contracts and leases and address intellectual property issues.
LatinoJustice PRLDEF presented the 2010 Latina Trailblazers awards at a breakfast reception held at the Yale Club.
Natalia Martín, associate and director of diversity at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, was among the honorees. Ms. Martin was director of legal personnel and professional development at Simpson Thacher from 2005 to 2007, and served as an associate dean at Yale Law School for 14 years before that. She received her law degree from Yale in 1985. Ms. Martin is a member of the New York City Bar's committee to enhance diversity in the profession and the New York State Bar Association's minorities in the profession committee.
The award was created to honor U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who served on the board of LatinoJustice PRLDEF for more than 10 years.
Martin Luskin, partner and chair of the real estate financial services department at Blank Rome, received the 2010 humanitarian award from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at a dinner of the school's men's division.
Mr. Luskin has been a member of the men's division since 1987. He currently serves as treasurer and a member of its executive board.
"Marty has taken a significant leadership role in all aspects of our advocacy for Einstein. His philanthropy is not just about 'writing a check' but being a leader and role model for others who may want to make Einstein a priority in their lives," said Peter Gatof, chairman of the men's division.
The Nassau County Bar Association recognized members for service at its annual meeting at the association's Mineola office.
Association president Emily F. Franchina presented the directors award to Annabel Bazante, chair of the association's lawyer assistance program committee, and David Gabor, chair of the membership committee.
Ms. Bazante's group assists attorneys suffering from alcohol, drug, gambling and other addictions. Under her direction, the committee has expanded its services to provide time and stress management training, health and wellness education, and support services for attorneys facing law firm closings, particularly solo practitioners.
Ms. Bazante said the committee has helped about 150 attorneys in the three years she has been its chair. She has been a member for eight years.
Ms. Bazante specializes in trusts and estates at Brosnan & Hegler in Garden City.
Mr. Gabor has served as chair of the association's membership committee for the past two years. Mr. Gabor has previously served as a director of the bar group's board and as chair of the association's labor and employment law committee. He is a partner at Gabor & Gabor in Garden City.
Linda Nanos and Howard Brill were presented the president's award for their leadership in Bridge Over Language Divides (BOLD).
Both former chairs of the Nassau bar's immigration law committee, Ms. Nanos and Mr. Brill were appointed by Ms. Franchina to spearhead BOLD last year. The project aims to "be more responsive to the changing ethnic diversity of Nassau County by enhancing the ability to provide legal services and education in communities that speak languages other than English."
Since its inception, BOLD has added a "language line" to its call center, which can translate calls in over 170 languages; provided seminars in Creole and English for Haitian immigrants on their rights under temporary protected status laws, and organized foreclosure clinics for Spanish-speaking homeowners.
Ms. Nanos practices immigration law in Hempstead. She is an honorary board member of the Central American Refugee Center and a member of Nassau bar's grievance committee.
Mr. Brill is a solo practitioner in Hempstead specializing in immigration and naturalization law. He is a mediator on immigration matters for U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and a lecturer on immigration topics for the Nassau and Suffolk County Bar Associations.
