H&K takes in Lawyers for Children America
From her office on Brickell Avenue, Carolyn Salisbury gazes out at Biscayne Bay, sparkling like a diamond in the sun.
Swiveling in her chair, she says with a laugh: “There’s so much marble around here!”
Not bad for the director of the financially struggling Miami office of Lawyers for Children America, a nonprofit group that trains and supports pro bono lawyers to represent foster children in a holistic way.
Because of low interest rates and IOTA shortfalls, The Florida Bar Foundation had to cut its allocation to the group by $43,000, an amount Salisbury calls “a huge chunk of our budget.” To make matters direr, the group lost its home, and could not afford to pay Miami office rent.
Holland & Knight to the rescue.
In October, Holland & Knight donated two offices and adjoining space totaling 280 square feet worth about $175,000. Also donated were two parking spaces, valued at $271 per month from LAZ Parking, for a total gift worth more $188,000.
“It was a huge deal for our agency,” said Salisbury, who works with lawyer Paula Velazquez. “It is a beautiful view. But as wonderful as our view is, what’s more important is to have wonderful people surrounding us here at Holland & Knight.”
Lyndy Lambert and Tracy Nichols, Holland & Knight lawyers who both handle cases for Lawyers for Children America, knew that Salisbury was in desperate need of a roof over her head after losing its last free office space when Squire Patton Boggs consolidated and moved to a higher floor at the Southeast Financial Center. They suggested Holland & Knight donate the offices to a good cause.
Holland & Knight Managing Partner Kelly-Ann Cartwright agreed.
“Our firm has a long history with Lawyers for Children America that goes back to its formation,” Cartwright said. “We recently expanded our office space and had some extra room, so when we heard of their need, it was a natural fit. We respect the work that LFCA carries out each day on a very tight budget. Several of our lawyers have taken on cases through LFCA and have found it to be very gratifying. We hope to get even more attorneys involved, now that we share a working space.”
Salisbury remembers back to many years ago when LFCA first started in 1995, a partnership of private attorneys and government leaders, including former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.
“I came to a training at Holland & Knight. At the time, I was a young lawyer teaching at the University of Miami. I met Chesterfield Smith, and he was at a LFCA training and came and introduced himself. I knew who he was. I remember him saying to us how grateful he was for our work as public interest lawyers, and how grateful he was to have us there training. Mr. Smith always made us feel like we were helping Holland & Knight. And that’s the same way Holland & Knight makes us feel now.”
Dedicated to representing more than 100 foster children holistically through pro bono advocacy, Lawyers for Children America in Miami trains lawyers to take cases and assists and supports those pro bono lawyers throughout the cases that can last several years. In South Florida, since its inception, LFCA has trained and supported more than 1,000 attorneys who have represented more than 3,000 dependent children.
To make up for budget shortfalls without cutting services, Lawyers for Children America is holding its 16th Annual Child Advocacy Luncheon on December 4, at noon, at the Hotel Intercontinental in Miami. The featured speaker is Leslie Rothenberg, chief judge-elect of the Third DCA. Admission is $100. R.S.V.P. by December 2 to [email protected]. And, of course, Holland & Knight will be there, sponsoring a table and invites other law firms to join them.
