NEW YORK – The national intellectual property and commercial litigation law firm of McKool Smith is joining the New York Regional Office of the Anti-Defamation League and several other prominent law firms as part of a new initiative aimed at increasing diversity awareness in New York schools.
The Professional Partners Program is a coordinated effort between the ADL and the New York legal community to bring the group’s No Place for Hate® program to as many schools in New York City as possible. The New York City Law Department and the New York City Department of Education are full partners in the venture.
“The attorneys at our firm have a long history of supporting the Anti-Defamation League, and we are thrilled to be part of this worthwhile effort,” says Mike McKool, co-founder of McKool Smith. “The Professional Partners Program will provide students in the New York area with a greater understanding of the importance and power of diversity in all segments of our society.”
Gayle Rosenstein Klein, who will be leading McKool Smith's involvement in the program, adds, “Children from all over the world attend New York City public schools, and it is our privilege to devote time and resources toward teaching young minds the value of respect.”
Law firms in the program will perform pro bono work in addition to helping schools create a culture of respect to help celebrate diversity and empower members of the school community to challenge all forms of bigotry.
By participating in No Place for Hate®, schools have the opportunity to reduce bullying, name-calling and other expressions of bias and to create a safer learning environment. To become certified in the program, schools must create a No Place for Hate® committee and complete three or more anti-bias/diversity education activities throughout the school year. Projects include curriculum lesson plans on First Amendment freedoms/limits, forums promoting respect, essay contests, special speakers, holocaust education, and school infomercials promoting tolerance and inclusiveness.
In addition to McKool Smith, the other founding law firms in the Professional Partner Program include Cravath Swaine & Moore; Sullivan & Cromwell; Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson; White & Case; Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom; Schulte Roth & Zabel; and Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft.
McKool Smith has more than 95 attorneys in Dallas, Austin, Marshall, New York and Washington, D.C., handling commercial and intellectual property litigation for national and international clients. The firm is recognized as one of the premier litigation law firms in the United States.
For more information about McKool Smith, please contact Bruce Vincent at 800-559-4534 or bruce@legalpr.com.