Pro Bono Partnership Names Outstanding Volunteers of 2003   The Pro Bono Partnership has named Anahaita Kotval of RBS Greenwich Capital Markets in Greenwich, CT, Susan Corcoran of Jackson Lewis LLP in White Plains, NY, and David Fritz of Sony Electronics, Inc. in Woodcliff Lake, NJ, as 2003 Volunteers of the Year.  The law firm Robinson & Cole LLP of Stamford, CT, and the legal department of Johnson & Johnson of New Brunswick, NJ, have also been recognized for their pro bono contributions.  The recipients were honored for their outstanding commitment to providing free legal assistance to community-based nonprofit organizations in Westchester County, New York, Fairfield County, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The Partnership, with offices in White Plains and Newark, was founded in 1997 to provide free legal assistance to nonprofits whose programs benefit low-income communities or serve the public interest in the New York, Connecticut and New Jersey suburbs.  "It's a winning situation for everyone," explains Richard Hobish, the Partnership's Executive Director.  "Our clients benefit from much needed, quality legal advice. The lawyer volunteers, in turn, are personally and professionally enriched while generating goodwill in the community."  More than 700 attorney volunteers have assisted more than 600 area nonprofits with nearly 1700 legal issues since the Partnership was founded. Ms. Kotval is Managing Director and Associate General Counsel at RBS Greenwich Capital Markets, where she is responsible for litigation and regulatory inquiries.  Since 1999, she has provided assistance on corporate, contract and employment issues for nonprofits working predominately in the areas of affordable housing and domestic violence. Ms. Corcoran, Partner at the White Plains office of Jackson Lewis LLP, specializes in disability management, litigation, management training and litigation avoidance.  Since 1997, she has provided employment-related services to a variety of organizations serving the needs of children.  Mr. Fritz, Vice President and Group Counsel at Sony Electronics Inc., provides real estate legal services to organizations working with issues such as domestic violence and child abuse, in keeping with Sony Electronics’ commitment to charitable causes and community efforts. In the past year, 19 attorneys from Johnson & Johnson have volunteered to assist on 43 pro bono matters, ranging from intellectual property, to real estate, to incorporation and employment matters.  In total, volunteer lawyers from Johnson & Johnson’s legal department have assisted 35 nonprofit organizations.  “Johnson & Johnson’s legal department is serving as a role model for other corporations in New Jersey and around the country that are thinking of creating pro bono programs," commented Mr. Hobish. Attorneys from Robinson & Cole offices in Stamford, Greenwich, New York and Hartford have provided hundreds of hours of legal help to organizations on tax, real estate and employment matters, among others.  Most of the firm’s 215 lawyers regularly volunteer their time, according to Pamela Elkow, Chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee. “We strongly support the giving back of our talents to the communities where we work,” she adds. “Every one of the Partnership’s volunteers has embodied the professionalism and dedication to our clients that makes practicing law so rewarding,” stated Mr. Hobish.   To learn more about the Pro Bono Partnership, call the White Plains office at (914) 328-0674 or (203) 357-1111, or the New Jersey office at (973) 273-0600 or visit their website at www.probonopartnership.org.