Volunteer Opportunities

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PRO BONO ATTORNEY HIGHLIGHT:

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Nicole Grimm	Luke Meisner	Warren T. Allen II

On Thursday, April 18, 2013, Warren T. Allen, II, Nicole L. Grimm, and Luke A. Meisner were honored at Legal Aid’s 24rd Servant of Justice Awards Dinner with the 2013 Klepper Prize for Volunteer Excellence.  The Klepper Prize was created through the generosity of Martin and Arlene Klepper in order to recognize an attorney early in her or his career who has made a significant volunteer contribution to the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia. 

Mr. Allen, Ms. Grimm, and Mr. Meisner were honored for their extraordinary contributions in implementing Skadden’s “Impact Project,” designed to provide desperately needed pro bono legal assistance on a broad scale to help low-income children and families in the District.  The Impact Project focuses Skadden’s resources on three areas of specific need: domestic violence, guardians ad litem for children, and housing.  These three attorneys have generously taken the lead in implementing the domestic violence portion of the project in conjunction with Legal Aid, while under the expert guidance of Skadden partner Michele Roberts and recently retired Skadden partner Saul Pilchen. 

Mr. Allen, Ms. Grimm and Mr. Meisner lead a team of approximately 40 Skadden attorneys who regularly go to the NW Domestic Violence Intake Center at the D.C. Superior Court.   At the DVIC, the attorneys provide same-day representation for survivors of domestic violence seeking ex-parte Temporary Protection Orders, assist the survivors in filing petitions for Civil Protections Orders, and agree to represent the survivors in the CPO hearings usually scheduled two weeks later.

Warren T. Allen, II, is an associate in Skadden’s Litigation Section, where he represents companies and individuals in civil matters and government investigations.  He received his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2006 and clerked for the Honorable Gladys Kessler of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.  Prior to attending law school, Mr. Allen served six years as a police officer, including assignment to the detective bureau.  Mr. Allen currently serves on the board of directors for the Washington Literacy Center and as an associate trustee for the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.

Nicole Grimm is a counsel in Skadden’s Litigation Section, where she represents companies and individuals in connection with government investigations and related matters.  Ms. Grimm received her law degree from the American University Washington College of Law in 1999.  Prior to joining Skadden, Ms. Grimm – who is fluent in Spanish – worked at a law firm in Santiago, Chile, where she focused on foreign investment and international transactional matters.

Luke Meisner is an associate in Skadden’s International Trade Section, where he represents U.S. manufacturers in a variety of trade remedy proceedings and policy matters.  He received his law degree from the University of North Carolina in 2003 and clerked for the Honorable Eduardo C. Robreno of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

JONATHAN G. LIN
Simpson Thacher & Barlett LLP

In April 2012, Jonathan G. Lin was honored at Legal Aid’s 23rd Servant of Justice Awards Dinner with the 2012 Klepper Prize for Volunteer Excellence.  The Klepper Prize was created through the generosity of Martin and Arlene Klepper in order to recognize an attorney early in her or his career who has made a significant volunteer contribution to the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia. 

Jonathan is an associate in the litigation department at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. He specializes in complex litigation in state and federal courts, arbitra­tion, and regulatory matters. He has represented corporate and individual clients in all phases of litigation and arbitration.

Throughout his career, Jonathan has maintained an active pro bono practice, integrating pro bono into his legal career. Jonathan’s pro bono relationship with Legal Aid began in 2009 when Simpson Thacher took on several landlord and tenant matters from Legal Aid. While a number of the firm’s DC-based attorneys have worked on cases referred from Legal Aid, Jonathan quickly emerged as a leader on this project. He has represented several clients in housing law cases referred by Legal Aid. He has also been a mentor to other attorneys in the office working on matters referred from Legal Aid, ensuring that, with each case, the team is pursuing the right angles and getting good results for their cli­ents.

Most recently, Jonathan obtained an injunction, fines, and significant damages on behalf of a pro bono housing client after nearly two years of proceedings in the District of Colum­bia Superior Court.