Crossing Boundaries

How does the world of private practice work successfully with that of nonprofits? Ultimately both sides want to do good and find the best results for their pro bono clients in desperate need of representation and resolution. Pursuing Justice sits down with Brenna DeVaney, Director of Skadden’s global pro bono practice; Jennifer Kroman, Director of Cleary Gottlieb’s pro bono practice; and Annie Pineda, Director of Pro Bono at The Bronx Defenders, to glean best practices for building successful working relationships.

 

 

FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE

Brenna DeVaney

Brenna DeVaney directs Skadden’s global pro bono practice and is responsible for the firm’s relationships with legal services organizations and nonprofits. Her own practice focuses on representing low-income individuals, including women in family law matters who have been the victims of domestic violence. Ms. DeVaney is also involved with the Skadden Honors Program in Legal Studies at the City College of New York, part of the firm’s effort to increase diversity in law schools and the legal profession. Additionally, she regularly consults with corporate legal departments on their efforts to develop in-house pro bono programs.

Jennifer Kroman

Jennifer Kroman is Cleary Gottlieb’s Director of Pro Bono Practice. She manages the firm’s broad array of pro bono matters and develops and strengthens Cleary’s relationships with public interest and legal services partners. Jennifer leads an award-winning pro bono program that serves hundreds of low-income individuals and the nonprofit organizations that assist them.

Annie Pineda

Annie Pineda is Director of Pro Bono at The Bronx Defenders, which provides holistic and client-centered criminal defense, family defense, immigration and civil legal services, social work support, and advocacy to indigent people of the Bronx. In her role, she is responsible for developing, managing and supervising the organization's pro bono program across all practice areas. Annie also served as the Director of Pro Bono for Still She Rises: Tulsa, the first public defender office in the country dedicated exclusively to the representation of mothers in the criminal justice system.