The New York State Bar Association and the New York State Unified Court System recognized Haynes and Boone, LLP Senior Counsel David Fleischer and David Ratner, formerly of Hartman, Ule, Rose & Ratner, LLP, for their role in helping to provide free legal counsel to indigent New York residents facing eviction.
Fleischer and Ratner created a free trial training program that they have offered to New York lawyers who will provide pro bono counsel in eviction proceedings. In 2017, New York became the first city to enact a Right to Counsel law entitling low-income residents with free legal representation in eviction matters. Fleischer and Ratner have offered training programs to staff attorneys of CAMBA, a Brooklyn-based provider of legal assistance that will work with New York City to roll out the Right to Counsel initiative.
In an October 24 ceremony, the New York State Bar Association commended Fleischer and Ratner for their “outstanding contributions to pro bono and access to justice.” The president of the Association also acknowledged Haynes and Boone for arranging continuing legal education (CLE) credit for CAMBA staff attorneys c participating in the trial training program.
Fleischer and Ratner offered training programs to CAMBA lawyers in August and September, and they are exploring the possibility of working on a pro bono basis with other agencies to train their lawyers to handle eviction cases.
In the award ceremony, the New York State Unified Court System also recognized Fleischer for his service to the court system’s “Attorney Emeritus” program, which pairs experienced trial lawyers 55 years of age and older with approved pro bono legal service programs.
Fleischer has represented clients in complex commercial disputes for more than 25 years. Ratner has represented tenants for his entire career, first at a legal services program and then in private practice.
Haynes and Boone, LLP is an international corporate law firm with offices in Texas, New York, California, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Washington, D.C., London, Mexico City and Shanghai, providing a full spectrum of legal services in energy, technology, financial services and private equity. With more than 575 lawyers, Haynes and Boone is ranked among the largest U.S.-based firms by The National Law Journal, The American Lawyer and The Lawyer. It also ranks among the nation’s most recommended law firms by general counsel, according to BTI Consulting Group’s “Most Recommended Law Firms 2019” report.