(Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images)
As the humanitarian crisis in Eastern Europe continues to unfold, some lawyers — at least the ones who aren’t clinging to their Russian clients — are pitching in to help. Paul Weiss kicked things off, announcing a donation match up to $1,500 for attorneys and staff giving to organizations engaged in the relief effort and mobilizing its pro bono power to help out.
Kaplan Hecker committed to matching relief donations in their salary increase memo (matching up to $2,000). Debevoise announced a $1,500 match policy just yesterday.
Thankfully, the ball is still rolling.
Kirkland & Ellis has revised its annual matching policy across the board in light of the crisis:
Kirkland & Ellis Foundation
If you wish, you may access the Foundation’s annual matching grant program to supplement your Ukrainian aid gifts. In light of this crisis, the Firm has decided to increase the annual matching amounts. The following are the new annual matching levels:
Share Partners: The Firm will match no less than $100 for any one contribution with an annual limit of $12.50 per share held during the current year with the minimum annual match of $2,500.
Non-Share Partners: The Firm will match no less than $100 for any one contribution with an annual limit of $2,000.
All Other Personnel: The Firm will match no less than $50 for any one contribution with an annual limit of $1,000.
We hear that Robinson+Cole is also stepping up to match donations and offer pro bono assistance with the filing of temporary protected status applications for Ukrainians.
Meanwhile, Ropes & Gray is helping its people direct their donations to organizations providing maximum impact, lawyers are collecting essentials for donation, and the firm is gearing up to leverage its pro bono resources.
Just as I put the finishing touches on this, Pillsbury informed its folks that it will match donations to Doctors Without Borders… up to $50,000! Fifty. Thousand. Dollars. A tremendous commitment.
…And as I finished writing THAT sentence, King & Spalding announced that it is donating $25K and will separately match donations to Ukraine on a firmwide level up to $50K as well.
May the donation match cycle be as robust as the salary match cycle.
As someone whose job requires casting a healthy dose of cynicism toward Biglaw, it’s always heartening to write about firms actually doing great stuff.
Earlier: Paul Weiss Mobilizing Pro Bono Resources For Ukrainian Refugees
Biglaw Firm Announces Program To Match Humanitarian Aid Donations
Biglaw Firms Ditching Russian Government Clients Because It’s The Right Move
This Firm Not Only Beats The Cravath Scale, But It’s Also Offering Bonuses!
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.
