Cleary Gottlieb Named Pro Bono Partner of the Year by The Bronx Defenders

Cleary Gottlieb has been recognized as Pro Bono Partner of the Year by The Bronx Defenders. The award was presented at The Bronx Defenders Annual Gala in New York on October 2.

Cleary Gottlieb partnered with The Bronx Defenders to address the denial of meaningful access to justice in the Bronx criminal courts for the thousands of people arrested for low-level marijuana possession every year. Cleary Gottlieb and The Bronx Defenders interviewed and represented over 500 clients who were arrested and charged with marijuana possession in the Bronx. Fifty-four “fighter” clients ultimately chose to contest their charges as a way of highlighting the unconstitutional “stop and frisks” leading to their arrests.

A front page New York Times story on the criminal justice system in New York City highlighted The Bronx Defenders and Cleary Gottlieb’s efforts.

The Bronx Defenders provides innovative, holistic, and client-centered criminal defense, family defense, civil legal services, social work support and advocacy to indigent people of the Bronx. The Bronx Defenders staff of nearly 200 represents 30,000 individuals each year and reaches hundreds more through outreach programs and community legal education. In the Bronx and beyond, The Bronx Defenders promotes justice in low-income communities by keeping families together.

Cleary Gottlieb dedicates more than 90,000 hours to pro bono and public service annually.