IBM Law Department Receives 2010 National Public Service Award from ABA Business Law Section
CHICAGO, March 29, 2010 – The American Bar Association Business Law Section will present its 2010 National Public Service Award for a law firm or corporate law department to the IBM Law Department on Friday, April 23, during the section’s Spring Meeting in Denver. IBM is only the second corporate law department to receive this recognition in the award’s 15-year history.
Through the award, the ABA Section of Business Law annually recognizes the work of a law firm or corporate law department that has demonstrated a commitment to delivering pro bono legal services in a business context.
The IBM Law Department earned recognition for its sustained volunteer business assistance to nonprofit organizations that serve the poor and disadvantaged. In the past two years, participation by the IBM Law Department staff in pro bono work has grown under the leadership of Robert C. Weber, senior vice president, legal and regulatory affairs, and general counsel; and Michelle Browdy, vice president and assistant general counsel.
During that time period, more than two dozen IBM lawyers have handled at least 30 matters for IBM’s Pro Bono Partnership clients, including work with corporate governance, real estate, regulatory compliance and employment law issues.
Among the clients the IBM Law Department has served through pro bono work are Grant Kids, Westchester Residential Opportunities, Greystone Foundation of Yonkers, Westchester Institute for Human Development, St. Luke’s LifeWorks, Bridge Fund, Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers as well as other nonprofit organizations assisting the underserved.
With just under than 60,000 members, the ABA Section of Business Law is one of the association’s largest sections. It provides business lawyers with education and analysis that furthers the development and improvement of business law, and it helps its members serve their clients competently, efficiently and professionally.
With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.
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Editor’s Note: Accredited reporters are welcome to attend this or any other session at the 2010 Spring Meeting for free. To obtain ABA press credentials, please contact Barbara Power at 312/988-6147 or at powerb@staff.abanet.org.
