Volunteer Lawyers for Justice Hosts Annual Gala Honoring Preet Bharara, Catherine Weiss, and RBC Wealth Management
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2024
CONTACT
Eric W. Hughes
Bershad Director of Communications
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
(973) 233-5724
ehughes@vljnj.org
Newark, NJ – Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) proudly hosted its annual Arts & Eats for Justice Gala on October 8, 2024, in a celebration of the organization’s commitment to ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty across New Jersey. The event, held at The Park Savoy Estate, was a resounding success, raising $750,000 in support of VLJ’s mission and programs.
This year’s gala honored three leaders in justice:
Preet Bharara
Preet Bharara, a partner at WilmerHale, was honored with VLJ’s Champion of Justice Award. Preet is a former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). He is a renowned and highly regarded lawyer who focuses on investigations and criminal litigation matters. Dubbed “one of the most consequential prosecutors in American history,” Preet led some of the most significant criminal and civil litigations brought in the SDNY on behalf of the United States, seeing him widely recognized as one of the most effective and transformative US Attorneys to ever lead the SDNY.
Preet is an author, a frequent public speaker, and a much-valued voice in the national dialogue. He is a distinguished Scholar-in-Residence at the New York University School of Law, and regularly speaks to corporations, legal associations, and trade groups on ethics, compliance, culture, and diversity issues. He wrote a New York Times best-seller titled Doing Justice: A Prosecutor’s Thoughts on Crime, Punishment and the Rule of Law. Preet also shares his perspectives as host of the “Stay Tuned with Preet” and “Café Insider” podcasts. In 2012, Preet was featured on the cover of TIME magazine and appeared on its list of the “100 Most Influential People in the World.”
During the gala, Preet participated in a lively fireside chat hosted by his WilmerHale colleague Ronald Machen, former United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. The chat focused on Preet’s dedication to access to justice and how attorneys can help bridge the growing access to justice gap that is exacerbated by the general lack of a constitutional right to counsel in civil cases.
Catherine Weiss
Catherine Weiss, Of Counsel with Lowenstein Sandler LLP and Chair Emeritus of the Lowenstein Center for Public Interest, was honored with VLJ’s Partner in Justice Award. During Catherine’s twelve-year tenure as Chair of the center, she built on the firm’s historic commitment to public service by spearheading the firm’s pro bono commitment to individuals experiencing poverty and the non-profit organizations that support them.
Catherine also maintained her own pro bono docket throughout her tenure that focused on litigation and policy initiatives advancing the rights of justice seekers who have been historically under-resourced and under-represented, especially tenants, immigrants, children, and women. Her strategic foresight and leadership have undoubtedly transformed the lives of thousands of people across New Jersey. As Of Counsel, she continues to represent pro bono clients in a range of matters and works with coalitions she helped create that focus on both individual representation and systemic change in our broken immigration and housing systems.
RBC Wealth Management was honored with VLJ’s Community Vision Award. Founded in 1909, RBC Wealth Management delivers trusted advice and world-class wealth solutions to individuals, families and institutions. A subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), it is one of the largest full-service wealth management firms in the U.S., supporting the complex needs of high-net-worth and institutional clients by providing access to private banking, credit, investment management, asset management and other services. In the United States, RBC Wealth Management has $619 billion in total client assets with more than 2,100 financial advisors operating from 191 locations in 42 states.
Over the past eight years, RBC Wealth Management and the RBC Foundation have dedicated substantial financial resources to VLJ’s legal programming, including the Debt Relief Legal Program and ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) Program, which work hand-in-hand to strengthen financial stability for high-need communities. Because of RBC’s support, ReLeSe and DRLP have provided critical assistance for unmet legal needs, promoted the financial stability of individuals, and fostered the economic stability of entire communities.
VLJ also presented awards to two exemplary volunteers:
Jason Holt, a member with Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi, was named VLJ’s inaugural Michael R. Griffinger Volunteer of the Year. Following in the tradition set by founding VLJ Trustee, Michael R. Griffinger, this award recognizes the exemplary pro bono efforts of an individual lawyer.
Nydia Benders, with St. Joseph’s Health, received VLJ’s Outstanding Advocate for Justice Award. This award recognizes the exemplary efforts of a non-attorney volunteer in assisting clients, improving VLJ systems and processes, and supporting access to justice.
“We are deeply honored and grateful to recognize these extraordinary leaders and volunteers for their outstanding contributions to justice,” said Cathy Keenan, VLJ’s Executive Director. “Their efforts empower VLJ’s mission of ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty, meaning New Jersey continues it march toward being a place where justice is decided on the merits and not someone’s ability to afford it.”
The gala featured a vibrant program hosted by Paul Fishman at Arnold & Porter, including remarks from honorees, client success stories, and a live painting by Suliman Onque, a multifaceted artist from Newark. The funds raised will directly support VLJ’s provision of free civil legal services to tenants facing eviction, community members overwhelmed with debt, survivors of human trafficking, veterans seeking stability, and others with unmet legal needs.
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About Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ)
VLJ is an award-winning, comprehensive nonprofit legal services program based in Newark, NJ, with a statewide reach. VLJ's mission is to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. The Newark-based organization ensures fair access to the legal system through partnerships with corporations and hundreds of volunteer attorneys. In 2023, VLJ’s work impacted over 4,200 people—including 1,644 children—and its volunteer attorneys donated nearly $2 million in free legal services.