Rich Stewart’s Legal Work By David Yawn
Rich Stewart, who worked at Champion International until IP acquired
it last year, is a recipient of the coveted Pro Bono Partnership
2000 Volunteer of the Year Award. The Pro Bono Partnership gives
this award to three individuals, a law firm and a corporation
on an annual basis. Stewart was honored for his outstanding work
on behalf of several nonprofit clients and for his ongoing support
of the Partnership’s programs. His professional work not
only benefited the Partnership’s clients, but IP as well
through the goodwill his work has generated.
“This award recognizes not only the significant personal
commitment of time and energy that Rich has made to help promote
the cause of pro bono legal services, but also his leadership
among corporate lawyers throughout the country,” says Bill
Lytton, senior vice president and general counsel at IP. “Rich
is a leader who adds value every day to International Paper and
our legal department, and to the communities in which we live.
He is a role model for all of us.”
The Partnership feels the same way.
“You are fortunate to have him as a member of your legal
team,” said Richard S. Hobish, executive director of the
White Plains, N.Y.-based Pro Bono Partnership, a nonprofit legal
resource center which serves other nonprofit organizations in
the suburban New York tri-state area. That area covers Fairfield
County, Conn., Westchester County, N.Y. and northern New Jersey.
The Partnership’s mission is to serve the business legal
needs of nonprofit organizations through the use of in-house lawyers
and private firm lawyers interested in performing pro bono (free)
legal work. Its clients include organizations serving the poor
and disadvantaged and providing important social services.
“This organization makes it very easy for lawyers such as
myself to do pro bono work,” Stewart says. “They mail
documents to us listing possible ways we can help. We then identify
opportunities we’d like to work on. If our work schedule
becomes involved, they’ll find someone to work with you.
This a very effective arrangement. It enables you to work for
groups versus individuals; the result is that your assistance
is amplified. If I can help an organization help 50,000 people,
it makes a real difference.”
The award winner described how he first got involved. “I
had the feeling that because I’ve been given an opportunity
for a successful career, I should give something back. The problem
I always had was how do I find organizations or people in need
and how to provide the required service in a way that doesn’t
deprive my clients of the legal resources they need. The Partnership
solved my problem.”
He became involved with the organization while he was working
at Champion after the Partnership made a presentation there. As
at Champion, Stewart gets support from IP management for his work
with the group.
“Working with the Pro Bono Partnership and its clients has
been a pleasure and has allowed me to contribute to the community,”
Stewart said. “To be able to give a little time and effort
to the legal problems of those who otherwise might not have access
to the legal advice they deserve, is not only the right thing
to do, but it is also personally gratifying.”
Shines Beyond
International Paper 
An
attorney at International Paper makes sure his work extends beyond
the vast world of IP into the community in which he lives. His
extensive pro bono (free) legal service has earned the chief counsel
for the intellectual property group at IP a national award in
his field.
Stewart’s
group at IP handles such subjects as copyrights and trademarks,
chiefly. “Rich was pleasantly surprised to see that the nonprofit
organizations have intellectual property issues, just like for-profit
companies,” said Maurice K. Segall, Deputy Director of the
Partnership. “Rich has been unbelievably proactive, contacting
us to express an interest in working on almost every intellectual
property matter available through the Partnership. He’s been
a pleasure to work with, always demonstrating the highest degree
of professionalism. On behalf of the Partnership and our clients,
we thank Rich and International Paper for all of the wonderful
support and help,” Segall added.
