In May, more than 300 leaders from the legal, financial, and nonprofit sectors gathered at Gotham Hall in Manhattan for Lawyers Alliance’s Business Law & Leadership Gala. The annual event celebrated the partnership between lawyers and nonprofits and their power to transform New York City communities.
This year’s distinguished honorees were Amy Schulman, executive vice president and general counsel, and president and general manager, Nutrition, Pfizer Inc. Pfizer has been a corporate sponsor of Lawyers Alliance’s legal services and educational programs for more than 15 years. Since 2001, the company has collaborated with Lawyers Alliance to present the Strategic Legal Thinking Seminar series, offered three times a year to more than 700 nonprofit managers. The seminars are broadcast via live videoconference from New York to 15 locations across the United States. Pfizer’s social responsibility priorities include expanding access to healthcare and information in the U.S. and internationally.
Michael D. Fricklas, executive vice president, general counsel, and secretary, Viacom Inc., has supported Lawyers Alliance’s work through both event sponsorship and pro bono activity. On Viacommunity Day, Viacom’s annual day of service, members of Viacom’s legal team assisted seven nonprofit organizations in reviewing their corporate bylaws, enabling these groups to identify ways to strengthen their governance structure for the future.
DoSomething.org, which is one of the largest organizations for teens and social change in the United States, was also honored. DoSomething.org harnesses that awesome energy and unleashes it on causes teens care about. In 2011, the group activated over 2.4 million young people to take action. Beginning in 2003, Lawyers Alliance and its volunteer attorneys have worked on numerous legal projects with DoSomething.org, including general corporate, contract and intellectual property matters.
For event details, visit www.lawyersalliance.org/gala.php.