Jun., 2010 - Mecklenburg County Bar

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Volunteer Lawyer Program SPOTLIGHT Fred B. Monroe Fred B. Monroe has been involved with pro bono estate needs throughout the community. On one particular case, he represented the granddaughter of decedent who was the beneficiary of the grandfather’s devise of the family home. Some of the children of the decedent sought to enforce a purported will that disinherited the granddaughter. Ultimately, the court ruled that the will submitted to probate by the children was invalid; therefore, the granddaughter inherited the family home. MCB VLP: Current Employer / number of years with current employer? FM: Partner; James, McElroy & Diehl, P.A.; 13 years MCB VLP: Area of Practice / Expertise? FM: Complex Business Litigation MCB VLP: Law School / Law School Graduation Year? FM: Mercer University; 1996 MCB VLP: How did you discover this pro bono case? FM: My law partner, Pender McElroy MCB VLP: What is a typical case / issue like? FM: There is no typical case. A significant portion of my practice concerns disputes among owners of closely held businesses, employment and broker/customer disputes filed with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and general civil litigation. Over the years, I have been involved in several complex estate disputes. While there has been a common thread among the securities cases with FINRA and the closely held business break up cases, each one of them has been fairly unique in some way. Their challenge, and Fred B. Monroe correspondingly, my interest, lies in piecing together a solution. MCB VLP: How many pro bono cases do you typically handle at one time? FM: One or two. MCB VLP: Did you participate in any particular training so that you could handle pro bono estate cases? FM: The JMD school of hard knocks. MCB VLP: What is your hope for the future with regarding these type of pro bono cases? FM: To have an occasional pro bono case that is of merit. MCB VLP: How can the Mecklenburg County legal community help with similar cases? FM: The first step is to be willing to devote part of your time to the community. MCB VLP: What is the best advice you’ve received during your legal career? FM: There are many mentors I have had. Those within my firm are Ed Hinson, Gary Hemric, Mickey Aberman, Rich Fennell, and of course, Bill Diehl, and outside my firm, my brother John Monroe, of Atlanta, Georgia who is with Ford & Harrison, LLP. As trial lawyers, they each, by example have demonstrated that you must tirelessly advocate for your clients in a way that fits your style and that will get the best results for your client. MCB VLP: What advice would you give others? FM: I would suggest that we, as lawyers, shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously. MCB VLP: What is the most challenging part of your career? FM: Managing a growing practice and consistently having to become acquainted with new areas of the law as applied to my client’s particular circumstances. MCB VLP: What is your favorite part of your current job? FM: Arguing before a judge or taking a case to trial while accomplishing the goals of my clients. MCB VLP: Any other pertinent things you would like to share with the Mecklenburg County Bar and legal community? FM: Have fun with what you do! President’s Letter continued from cover am thankful to each of you who selflessly gives of your time and talent to educate and train our lawyers, to ensure professional and ethical behavior of our members, to improve the administration of, and access to, justice and, in the end, to ensure that the rule of law, and the ability of all to pursue life, liberty and happiness, is protected. And I am in awe of how many do so much without fanfare or the need for recognition. Our Bar has accomplished much this year, but our work is never done. We are fortunate to have an outstanding Executive Director in Nancy Roberson. She works tirelessly to ensure that MCB, and each of us as members, fulfills our collective duty to the profession and to the community. To her credit, Nancy has assembled a highly competent, hard working and dedicated staff, without whom none of us would look good. I urge your continued support of Nancy and her staff, of our Board, of our new officers, our Executive Committee, and our Committee, Section and Division Chairs. If you haven’t yet fully connected with our Bar, consider getting more involved. You might be surprised at all our Bar does for you, the profession and our community. Just do it. Do it for love. 4 June 2010 www.meckbar.org
2009-10 VLP Pro Bono Awards & NC State Bar Service Award Outstanding Individual Attorney Robert W. Simmons Bob Simmons of McGuire Woods has been serving children and the community for more than 20 years through pro bono work. As cofounder and volunteer general counsel for the Children and Family Service Center, Mr. Simmons’ personal mission - to ensure opportunities for under-served children - is the focus of his volunteer work. According to the Center’s Executive Director, “When there is an opportunity to help a child, Bob makes that his top priority.” Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Mark A. Nebrig Mark Nebrig of Moore & Van Allen has volunteered 104 pro bono hours in 2009 to the development of a successful pro bono landlordtenant assistance program at Legal Aid of North Carolina. Mr. Nebrig was instrumental in organizing a team of partners and associates at his firm to help tenants avoid homelessness and secure safe and habitable dwellings. Legal Services of Southern Piedmont’s Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Francisco J. Linares Francisco Linares of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft settled a complex case with the IRS, allowing a deserving client to reach an Offer-In- Compromise on longstanding IRS tax liabilities. His work saved the family of five nearly $24,000. The family credits Mr. Linares with, “helping us get our lives back. He made a major difference.” Council for Children’s Rights’ Pro Bono Attorney of the Year David L. Levy David Levy of Hedrick, Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo provided great service to six children ensnared in five custody cases. His careful recommendations were adopted by the Family Court Judge presiding in each case. His earnest, caring, skillful and professional devotion to the best interest of his clients is evident through his reliable and continual dealings with Council for Children’s Rights, the parents, the children and the court. Outstanding Large Firm Bank of America Legal Department Year after year, Bank of America attorneys and staff volunteer with the Wills on Wheels Clinic to help deserving families maintain control over important end-of-life decisions - a vital service that many low-income clients cannot begin to afford without the Clinic. In 2009, Bank of America attorneys volunteered more than 350 pro bono hours that provided 28 low-income elderly clients with simple wills, powers of attorney and health care documents. Outstanding Small Firm The Law Office of Michael W. Long Mike Long, a solo-practitioner who has been providing pro bono service for many years, represented 10 pro bono clients in 2009. All of Mr. Long’s clients were victims of domestic violence who benefited from his excellent representation at trial and detailed follow-up that ensured his client obtained the necessary relief needed to make a secure and safe life 26th Judicial District SelfServe Center’s The Honorable Jane V. Harper Pro Bono Award Julie H. Seidenstein Julie Seidenstein of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough is a dedicated volunteer to the 26th Judicial District’s SelfServe Center. Ms. Seidenstein selflessly volunteered her time and expertise to the Attorney for the Day Program and Supervising Custody / Divorce Clinics. All of her evaluations from the Attorney for the Day Program had an excellent rating and expressed how helpful she was during the consultation. North Carolina State Bar Distinguished Service Award S. Luke Largess The North Carolina State Bar Distinguished Service Award program honors current and retired members of the North Carolina State Bar throughout the state who have demonstrated exemplary service to the legal profession. Luke Largess of Tin, Fulton, Walker, & Owen has spent nearly 20 years providing leadership and volunteer service to the North Carolina Legal Education Assistance Foundation (NC LEAF) - the nation’s first state-wide loan forgiveness program to assist public service lawyers with student loan debt. Since helping to found NC LEAF while in law school at UNC Chapel Hill, Mr. Largess has continued to lead the organization, volunteering countless hours as the president of the NC LEAF Board. www.meckbar.org June 2010 5
Page 1 and 2: 13 Special Committee on discovered
Page 3: 2010 Bar Foundation Fund Campaign P
Page 7 and 8: 2009-10 Summary Communications Comm
Page 9 and 10: 2009-10 Summary Fee Dispute Resolut
Page 11 and 12: 2009-10 Summary McMillan Fund Commi
Page 13 and 14: 2009-10 Summary Special Committee o
Page 15 and 16: 2009-10 Summary Young Lawyers Divis

Jun., 2010 - Mecklenburg County Bar

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?