Recognizing Outstanding Contributions in Pro Bono Service
NEW YORK (November 16, 2004) — Joseph Suh, a partner in the New York office of McDermott Will & Emery, has been chosen as a recipient of the Cornerstone Award for 2004 from the Lawyers Alliance for New York for his long-time pro bono commitment to the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF). Since 1997, Lawyers for Alliance of New York has honored members of the legal community by recognizing outstanding contributions in pro bono service. Mr. Suh will be honored at the Cornerstone Awards reception on Wednesday, November 17, 2004.
Mr. Suh has served as corporate counsel to CACF for a number of years. The CACF, founded in 1986, is a tax-exempt charitable institution dedicated to improving the health and well being of Asian American children in New York City. CACF is the only children's advocacy organization for the Asian American community. CACF was founded when a group of social service professionals mobilized to raise awareness on the changing health and social service needs of children in the Asian American community.
Mr. Suh has counseled CACF regarding legal issues faced by CACF in its activities and assisted CACF in reviewing and drafting legal documents such as leases, independent contractor agreements and liability waivers. McDermott supports his efforts on behalf of CACF, as well as the Firm's other pro bono initiatives focusing on a commitment to children."
In addition to a tutoring program for children in inner-city schools, established in a number of McDermott Will & Emery's U.S. offices, the Firm also has established its Kids First program focused on representing children in need to assure they receive appropriate public education and remain in school. Kids First is organized in collaboration with a local referral agency in most of the Firm's U.S. offices, including the New York office, and seeks to provide children and their parents with legal representation for a variety of needs, including special education for eligible children, legal inquiries regarding children with health needs, school access and registration, school discipline, school eligibility for immigrant and undocumented children, law reform and legislative policy, and serving as guardians ad litem to abused and homeless children.
Mr. Suh is a member of the Global Finance Practice Group in the Firm's Corporate Department. His practice focuses on structured finance, derivatives and hedge funds. He graduated from Cornell University in 1991 and from Fordham University School of Law in 1994.
