Shearman & Sterling and Credit Suisse were honored with an “Innovative Law Firm/Corporate Partnership” award at the Legal Aid Society’s 2010 Pro Bono Awards in New York on November 4. The award recognizes the firm’s collaboration with Credit Suisse on a pro bono project to protect vital Social Security Disability benefits for physically and psychologically disabled low-income New Yorkers.

With the support of supervising partner Robert Evans, Pro Bono Counsel and Director of Pro Bono Counsel Saralyn Cohen and Pro Bono Coordinator Denise Karamian worked with representatives from Credit Suisse to organize four clinics. At these events, teams of attorneys and legal assistants from the two organizations assisted 30 individuals who were threatened with the loss of their benefits due to alleged overpayments.

Evans and Legal Aid board member Linda Rappaport (New York-Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits) accepted the award. Other Shearman & Sterling volunteers included partners Constance Fratianni (New York-Finance), Monica Holland (New York-Finance), and Kenneth Laverriere (New York-Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits); counsel Richard Alsop (New York-Capital Markets); associates Reni Adadevoh (New York-Asset Management), John Adams (London-Asset Management), Danielle Asaad (New York-Mergers & Acquisitions), Richard Bass (New York-Capital Markets), Paige Berges (New York-Litigation), Bob Bosslet (New York-Litigation), Robert Britton (NY-BR), Jocelyn Bush (New York-Litigation), Jesse Cuevas (New York-Capital Markets), Andrew Feng (New York-Asset Management), Kristopher Ferranti (New York-Mergers & Acquisitions), Caitlyn Gale (New York-Asset Management), Gregory Gewirtz (New York-Mergers & Acquisitions), Amy Gitlitz (New York-Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits), Curt Goldman (NY-BR), Karla Gonzalez (New York-Finance), Kelly Karapetyan (NY-AT), Christine Kim (New York-Capital Markets), Frances Ma (New York-Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits), Tania Mattei (NY-MA), Sean McGrath (New York-Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits), Jennifer Morton (New York-Financial Institutions Advisory & Financial Regulatory), Marjorie Mulhall (New York-Litigation), Assaad Nasr (New York-Mergers & Acquisitions), Pamela Okehie (New York-Capital Markets), Hee Yeon Park (New York-Mergers & Acquisitions), Daniella Polar (New York-Finance), Dave Rao (New York-Capital Markets), Corey Reis (New York-Capital Markets), Christian Rudloff (New York-Property), Peter Saad (New York-Capital Markets), Ruediger Schmidt-Bendun (New York-Financial Institutions Advisory & Financial Regulatory), Christopher Setteducati (New York-Finance), Irene Shih (New York-Capital Markets), Naveen Thomas (New York-Mergers & Acquisitions), Robert Zecher (New York-Asset Management), and Barbara Zylberg (New York-Finance); language specialist Jean Campbell; Pro Bono specialist Jorge Escobedo; law clerk Tyrone McBride; research specialist Frederick Shanks; and legal assistant Molly Webster. A number of Credit Suisse attorneys participated, led by Andy Hutcher and Andrew Lerner.