(February 13, 2006, Oakland, CA) – Reed Smith LLP, a top-25 international law firm, named James M. Wood as winner of its annual Sean Halpin Award for outstanding pro bono accomplishments. Mr. Wood is a senior partner in the Product Liability group in the firm’s Oakland, CA office.
The annual recognition was established by the firm to honor Sean Halpin, an outstanding young partner in its Philadelphia office who died July 10, 2004. A recipient is selected annually by the Reed Smith Pro Bono Committee from nominees who have made significant pro bono or other community service contributions during the previous year. All employees of the firm are eligible for the award. Recognition includes a $10,000 donation from Reed Smith to a nonprofit organization designated by the winner.
Mr. Wood selected the AIDS Legal Referral Panel of San Francisco (ALRP) as this year’s nonprofit beneficiary.
“Jim has been involved in many pro bono causes since joining Reed Smith, but it has been his commitment to people with HIV/AIDS and their needs -- both legal and otherwise -- that makes him a pro bono champion,” said Ira Lefton, the firm’s Pro Bono Committee Chair. “Jim is the quintessential example of a partner who never hesitates to put one more iron in the fire when a pro bono opportunity arises. He is being honored not just for his efforts but for his ability to inspire the efforts of other attorneys and staff members.”
For many years, Mr. Wood has been active with the San Francisco-based AIDS Legal Referral Panel and has represented people with HIV/AIDS in a wide variety of legal actions, including those involving breaches of confidentiality and improper disclosure of HIV status. In 2005, Jim initiated a partnership with the Panel which will make Reed Smith the Panel’s principal law firm on issues related to client confidentiality.
Mr. Wood has most recently been working on a California class action on behalf of school-age children with diabetes. In September, Reed Smith filed a civil action against two school districts and the California Department of Education seeking an order requiring schools to provide basic health services to children with diabetes which are required for them to attend school safely. He has been a leader of that 20-lawyer litigation team, and he has personally logged more than 300 hours on this effort. The case is progressing and it is hopeful there will be a resolution without the need for litigation.
“To receive an award in the name of Sean Halpin is a great honor for me,” Mr. Wood said. “I see this award, above all, as recognition of Sean’s deep commitment to social justice. I hope it inspires us to continue working together to keep his commitment alive. I am also very grateful that this prize honors and benefits those at the ALRP who do not accept injustice, but take action to do something about it.”
“This recognition of Jim’s efforts will provide much needed visibility and support for our organization’s work,” said Bill Hirsh, Executive Director of ALRP. “And we’re delighted to have additional funds to help in bolstering the organization’s work in the year ahead. We heartily congratulate Jim on this well-deserved honor.”
Halpin Award 2005 Honorable Mention Winners
The Committee recognized four other members of the firm as Honorable Mention winners for their outstanding pro bono activities in 2005: Pittsburgh and Philadelphia partner Efrem M. Grail for his efforts on behalf of incarcerated individuals in the Gulf Coast region in the wake of Hurricane Katrina; Falls Church partner Bill Thomas and Richmond partner Lane Kneedler for their work securing the commutation Robin Lovitt’s death penalty sentence to life in prison in Virginia; and Pittsburgh Of Counsel Kim Watterson’s successful challenge to a student’s expulsion from public high school for writing rap music at home and posting it on the Internet.
Mr. Halpin’s Legacy
Sean Halpin joined Reed Smith in September 1993 and progressed through the ranks before being elected a partner in the Philadelphia office. He practiced in the areas of commercial litigation and arbitration, both in the United States and internationally, and had jury trial, arbitration, and appellate experience in a broad range of commercial and general litigation areas. An ardent pro bono advocate, Mr. Halpin was a recipient of the VIP Award given by the Philadelphia Bar Association in recognition of exceptional efforts by an attorney on behalf of the indigent and disadvantaged.
**********
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith LLP is a top-25 international law firm with 1,000 lawyers located in 18 cities worldwide (14 in the U.S. and four in Europe). The firm represents clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to mid-market and emerging companies. Clients include financial services firms, life sciences companies, health care providers, technology companies and entrepreneurs, power generators and suppliers, manufacturers, real estate companies, universities, and non-profit organizations throughout the world. For more information, visit www.reedsmith.com.
About the AIDS Legal Referral Panel
The AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP) is a non profit 501(c)(3) organization that helps people living with HIV/AIDS maintain or improve their health by resolving their legal issues. ALRP is the only institution in the San Francisco Bay Area whose entire mission is dedicated to providing free and low-cost legal assistance and education on virtually any civil matter to persons living with HIV/AIDS. This includes such widely disparate areas as housing, employment, insurance, confidentiality matters, family law, credit, government benefits or public accommodations, to name just a few. This is accomplished through either direct representation of clients by one of ALRP’s five attorneys or by careful placement of clients with one of ALRP’s 600 panel attorneys.
# # #