Bernstein Shur’s Commitment to Pro Bono Service Breaks Records in 2012

ME Volunteer Lawyers Project Honors Firm for Most Pro Bono Hours
Fred Lipp and Pat Peard Honored by Firm for Exceptional Volunteer Service

Portland and Augusta, ME and Manchester, NH (January 11, 2013) – Bernstein Shur, one of northern New England’s largest law firms, announced that in 2012 it contributed more than 2,900 hours of pro bono legal services, valued at more than $700,000, to non-profit organizations and community service projects in ME, New Hampshire and around the world. The firm also contributed the most hours of any law firm in ME for the ME Volunteer Lawyers Project, a project of the ME Bar Foundation and Pine Tree Legal Assistance.

“It’s terrific that so many of our attorneys dedicate significant time and energy serving those in need,” said Charles Miller, Bernstein Shur’s CEO. ”We are committed to pro bono work and helping people in need get access to justice.”

The firm is dedicated to building a culture of service and volunteerism among attorneys and has increased its number of pro bono hours every year since 2006. In 2011, the law firm contributed 2,400 pro bono hours valued at $600,000.

“Providing legal services to organizations and individuals in need is one of our core values,” said Jim Keenan, attorney and chair of the Pro Bono Committee. “We make it a priority to serve the needs of our community by donating our time and expertise, and are constantly striving to do more.”

Each year, Bernstein Shur recognizes two attorneys for their exceptional commitment to pro bono service. The following attorneys were honored for their 2012 dedication at a firm event in December:

• Fred Lipp, shareholder and member of the firm’s Business Law Practice Group, received the Sumner T. Bernstein Pro Bono Award for his local and international pro bono work. Lipp provided legal representation to rural families in the Dominican Republic, worked with the Cambodian Arts and Scholarship Foundation’s educational outreach in Phnom Penh and counseled undocumented workers through the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project in ME.
• Pat Peard, shareholder and member of the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice Group, received the Barnett I. Shur Civic Award for her work on the ME Marriage Equality campaign. Peard has worked on the campaign for seven years and served as co-chair of the executive committee.

About Bernstein Shur

Widely regarded as one of New England’s most entrepreneurial law firms, Bernstein Shur is a multi-service firm with more than 100 attorneys in offices in ME and New Hampshire. Founded in 1915, the firm provides practical and innovative counsel in the areas of business law, litigation, and municipal law to clients throughout the region and around the world. Bernstein Shur is ME’s exclusive member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of independent law firms. More information is available at www.bernsteinshur.com.