Voices

Perkins Coie's Danielle Ryman Receives Alaska Attorney General's Pro Bono Service Award

ANCHORAGE (October 3, 2013) – Danielle M. Ryman, a partner in Perkins Coie's Labor & Employment practice, has received the Third Annual Alaska Attorney General's Award for Pro Bono service. The award was presented on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at the Anchorage Assembly Chambers in conjunction with the opening ceremony for domestic violence awareness month.

Long dedicated to actively supporting pro bono issues in the state of Alaska, Ryman has offered time and services to those in need of legal assistance who do not have the financial resources to secure counsel. Leah Medway, Perkins Coie's Pro Bono Counsel, said, "Danielle is a true champion for those less fortunate and in dire need of legal help. The firm, and those she helps, are tremendously grateful for all she does in aiding our pro bono efforts. This is a well-deserved honor."

"Danielle has steadfastly and often courageously stepped into the arena of pro bono service for domestic violence victims simply because she felt that it was the right thing to do," said Krista Scully, Pro Bono Director of the Alaska State Bar Association. "The state bar association's documentary short film series that Danielle spearheaded highlights the needs of Alaska's equal access to justice issues, much of which is devoted to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault."

In 2013, the Alaska Bar Association also awarded Perkins Coie its Lifetime Achievement Award noting: "…Perkins Coie has been generous in both time and money to ensure that the critical legal needs of the less fortunate are met. They are a true guiding force when it comes to Access to Justice and pro bono issues. …Perkins Coie has been a leader in action of how to bridge the justice gap. …spear-heading Alaska's Civil Gideon movement, representing a local domestic violence shelter, assisting yet another low-income tenant. Lawyers pitching in to do research for a pro bono attorney needing assistance, making the case to Alaska's congressional delegation for funding and innovative efforts to encourage other practitioners to take a pro bono case."

Ryman focuses on defense and representation of employers, as well as counsel and advice on issues affecting today's workplace. She defends employers in state and federal court, and before the EEOC, Alaska State Commission on Human Rights, Anchorage Equal Rights Commission, and Department of Labor. She also represents employers with traditional labor matters, such as negotiations of collective bargaining agreements, union grievances and arbitrations, and unfair labor practice claims.

Perkins Coie's devotion to pro bono efforts is not limited to its efforts in Alaska. Throughout the firm's 16 domestic offices, Perkins Coie has a high level of commitment to pro bono legal work and has devoted more than 210,000 hours to pro bono service in the past five years.

Perkins Coie press release

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