Viktor and TrustPlus firm

At Proskauer, we have a strong connection to the communities in which we live and work – and a deep commitment to their success. Our community involvement is rooted in our enduring tradition of upholding legal justice and our extensive pro bono work and charitable giving. We act on our sense of corporate social responsibility by creating and supporting programs that lead to lasting change, with a special emphasis on advancing education, veteran affairs, hunger and poverty.

Proskauer has a long history of public service and a distinctive pro bono program that enables its lawyers to make a broad impact through a variety of projects.

Our Program
We encourage our lawyers to make pro bono a vital part of their practice from the beginning of their careers, and pursue pro bono matters with the same vigor they devote to billable work. Every first-year associate is given a pro bono project upon joining the Firm, and all of our lawyers are expected to perform at least 50 pro bono hours annually.

Our Clients
Our extensive pro bono docket ranges from high-impact litigation and complex transactions for nonprofit organizations to matters for low-income individuals seeking equal access to justice. We help a wide range of pro bono clients, including community groups, refugees, domestic violence and human trafficking victims, low-income tenants and artists, veterans, Holocaust survivors, people with disabilities, and le***an, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. Our lawyers have played a crucial role in shaping issues such as gender equality, voting rights and religious freedom.

Our Team
Our pro bono program is led by a full-time pro bono partner who is a former federal prosecutor, and a full-time pro bono counsel with prior experience as a senior litigation associate. This team works closely with the Firm’s corporate social responsibility program, as well as the Pro Bono Initiative Committee.

At Proskauer, diversity, equity and inclusion are core values and fundamental to our history and culture. We strongly believe that promoting diversity strengthens our entire Firm and the communities in which we live and work. To this end, Proskauer has developed a Supplier Diversity Program that is committed to a more-inclusive marketplace that positively impacts the Firm, its suppliers and its clients. The Supplier Diversity Program is integrated into the Firm’s sourcing practices and designed to enhance opportunities for Diverse Suppliers to deliver cost-competitive, high quality and responsive solutions that result in mutual long-term value.

Goals
Advocate for supplier diversity and the Firm’s Supplier Diversity Program.
Advance the inclusion of Diverse Suppliers in the Firm’s sourcing and procurement strategy.
Amplify the Supplier Diversity Program performance and progress.

While supplier diversity is the responsibility of all who influence procurement decisions, Proskauer’s Supplier Diversity Program is administered by the Sourcing & Procurement Group, in collaboration with the Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Diversity Commitments Committee.

Proskauer stands against racism. While our work towards racial justice is longstanding, we know that we must do much more.

Racism is a global issue that impacts society at large, but we know that change begins within our own institutions. At Proskauer, we continue to focus on combating bigotry and prejudice while enhancing diversity and inclusion.

Raising Collective Consciousness
We have an ongoing featured speaker series and regularly scheduled forums to explore specific concepts relating to racism, equity, and inclusion. These discussions are open to the Proskauer community, including our clients and alumni.

The first of our Exchange Forums - "A Conversation on Being Black in America and Effective Allyship" - was held on Juneteenth 2020 and attended by over 1,000 people from our Proskauer community. Hosted by our Black Lawyer Affinity Group, the discussion was facilitated by culture change expert Michelle Silverthorn.

The second in our series – "A Path Forward: Privilege, Power and the Impact of Race" – featured guest speaker Tim Wise, one of the nation's most prominent anti-racist authors and educators. Tim led a conversation on privilege and inequality, and offered strategies for affirmatively taking steps to create a more inclusive and equitable environment.

In recognition of Black History Month, the third installment of our A Path Forward speaker series – "The Historical Context of Racism in America" – featured Professor Eddie S. Glaude Jr., the Professor of African American Studies at Princeton and an acclaimed author, in conversation with Proskauer partner and Chicago office head Nigel Telman. The virtual event explored the historical context of racism in America.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion, Retention, Promotion and Training
Proskauer is heavily invested in its diversity initiatives. We are working to meaningfully increase the pipeline of diverse lawyers and business services professionals in our Firm.

Our approach is guided by our Diversity Task Force and informed by feedback from our people. The Task Force is a leadership group empowered to develop major, targeted initiatives to raise the bar for the Firm’s diversity and inclusion strategy and to ensure that all voices are heard and elevated. It includes three members of the Firm’s Executive Committee, the Firm’s Managing Partner, two department chairs, three office heads and recruiting team members, among others.

Accordingly, the Task Force has implemented mandatory bias awareness training, which has been undertaken by all members of the Firm. We also have training focused on inclusive hiring, mentoring/sponsoring across difference, and inclusive leadership. Our goal is to train every member of our workforce on diversity and inclusion concepts to ensure that everyone is equipped to champion diversity and inclusion at Proskauer and as members of the larger legal industry.

We know that transparency and accountability is essential. We will continue to regularly share our diversity plan and the progress that we make with our employees and our clients.
Collaboration with Racial Justice and Community Organizations
It is critical that we continue to collaborate with racial justice institutions, community organizations, other leading legal organizations, our clients and alumni to create sustainable and impactful solutions to combat racism. We are focused in particular on justice reform and mass incarceration, as well as voter protection.

As part of our work for racial justice, Proskauer commits to providing at least 25,000 hours of our time to racial justice causes each year – and since 2020 we have far exceeded that goal, contributing over 70,000 hours to more than 500 matters.

Our work has particularly focused on criminal justice, voting rights, immigration cases, advice to minority-owned small businesses and micro-entrepreneurs of color, non-profits with racial justice missions, and anti-poverty and anti-violence matters. We were proud to collaborate with the Diversity and Inclusion Sports Consortium, and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, non-profits committed to advancing diversity and inclusion.

We have partnered with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) to create a fellowship for one of our associates to work directly with the LDF on strategic matters focusing on eliminating disparities and achieving racial justice and equality. Proskauer also advised the Alabama African American Civil Rights Heritage Consortium, Universal Hip Hop Museum, and 16th Street Baptist Church Community Development Corporation, non-profits dedicated to preserving and celebrating Black History.
Empowering Engagement
Proskauer is a community of over 1,500 individuals around the world, and we know that each of the communities in which we live and work faces its own set of unique social justice issues and complexities. To enable our own people to engage with causes they are passionate about, in addition to our own Foundation, we have created an employee-donation match program to support public organizations fighting for racial justice.

The Silver Scholar Program is a scholarship award for first- and second-year law school students which is designed to increase diversity within our Firm and the legal profession. Students selected to be Silver Scholars will receive a summer associate position at Proskauer and be eligible for a cash award of up to $30,000 payable in installments. First and second-year law students can apply.

The award is named after Edward Silver, the first elected Chairman of Proskauer and a premier labor lawyer of his time. The program reflects and is an outgrowth of Ed's lifelong commitment to diversity and equal opportunity.

We share a commitment and responsibility with the legal community to ensure that our workforce is developed as early, and with as much support as possible. We are actively engaged in several diversity "pipeline" initiatives which encourage diverse students to consider law as a career and to turn goals into real opportunities. Through established programs, internships, workshops and mentoring opportunities for students at various stages of their academic careers, we are proud to be a constant force for a more diverse future in the field of law.

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) SEO recruits talented college students of color and prepares them for careers in law by providing them with high-level internships and a demanding pre-law school prep course to acclimate them to the law school learning environment. We host interns from the program each summer in our New York office.
Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF) CRF is dedicated to educating middle and high school students about the importance of civic participation in society. Our partners are active in several of CFR's programs, including a Mock Trial program, an internship program and in-class lessons and demonstrations that bring various legal topics to life.
The Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice (LGJ)LGJ is a high school for students interested in pursuing a career in law. Proskauer began a relationship with "LGJ" through the PENCIL Partnership Program which works to inspire the advancement of learning and broaden the scope of education by connecting schools and business leaders. Our programs support this effort and are designed to get students excited about college and the consideration of law school. Our initiatives with LGJ include a mentoring program, Career Day, a resume and interview workshop, a panel presentation by lawyers and staff, an externship program and a Mock Trial team.
Cristo Rey New York Corporate Work Study Program Since 2006, we have participated in an internship program with Cristo Rey New York High School. Interns from Cristo Rey New York High School work in our office year-round in our Human Resources, Diversity and Records departments. Cristo Rey New York High School is a Catholic, co-ed, college-prep school, part of the national Cristo Rey Network. Cristo Rey serves students from all five boroughs of New York City and lower Westchester County. Most live in the South Bronx, Washington Heights and Harlem. The program provides students with real world job experiences while allowing them to earn a large portion of the cost of their education.
The Boston Lawyers Group (BLG)We partner with the BLG, an association of law firms and corporations dedicated to developing initiatives for diverse law students. BLG works with law students, student organizations and bar associations in order to promote diverse legal talent in the Boston community
Practicing Attorneys for Law Students Program, Inc. (PALS) Proskauer supports the PALS program, which mentors law students of color and junior attorneys by providing them with practical advice on resume writing, interviewing and being a successful associate and more.

Proskauer has long championed the professional development and career advancement of women. We named our first woman partner in 1965, years before doing so became the norm.

Key initiatives

Our key women's initiatives include:

Proskauer Women's Alliance. PWA is our flagship initiative for women. Led by a steering committee of senior counsel and associates advised by partners, it fosters the career development of women lawyers in a number of ways.
Women's Sponsorship Program. WSP takes career development beyond traditional mentoring: The firm selects distinguished senior partners as sponsors who not only serve as advisors, but also proactively advocate on behalf of carefully chosen mid- and senior-level women lawyers.
Mentoring. All associates are assigned mentors — partners, senior counsel or senior associates — throughout their careers at Proskauer. The mentors provide guidance on professional development, working relationships and our culture.
Associate Shadowing Program. The Shadowing Program offers great opportunities for associates to participate in professional experiences that could serve as valuable training tools, such as attendance at a significant client meeting, negotiation session, court appearance or deposition conducted by a more senior lawyer.
Encouragement of board membership. We educate women lawyers about board membership, identify opportunities and connect them with women who have board experience and can offer special insight.
Alumni panel discussions and networking events. Current and former Proskauer women lawyers come together to share their experiences and build potentially career-enhancing relationships.
Sponsorships and partnerships. We partner with groups such as the National Association of Women Lawyers, the Women’s Bar Association, the Women in Law Empowerment Forum and the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law to support their programs and events.
Community outreach. Proskauer women play active roles in supporting women-focused programs, groups and organizations that serve their communities, whether local or viewed more broadly.
Re-entry. We offer career coaching specifically designed for caregivers transitioning back to the firm from maternity leave or parental leave.

Flex-time. Our lawyers can develop flexible work schedules to help achieve a better balance between their professional and personal obligations.

CaRe Program. CaRe, our caregiver return program, aims to ease the transition of lawyers returning from primary caregiver leave allowing them to return to work on a 75% schedule and receive 100% of their pre-leave compensation for the first six months following their return. The Program responds directly to feedback from our lawyers that the transition back into the workplace after an extended leave presents unique challenges. CaRe eases the pressure on these caregivers, and reaffirms our commitment to supporting the needs of our lawyers at key stages of their personal lives.

For Success
The world's leading organizations and global players choose Proskauer to represent them when they need it the most. With one of the largest global client rosters, you can be confident you will be in good company and represented by the best minds in the business.

800 strong, our top tier team of star trial attorneys, acclaimed transactional lawyers and exceptionally talented partners and associates have earned a reputation for the relentless pursuit of perfection and a dauntless pursuit of success.

Business savvy and market driven, our intellectual capital drives success. We are proud of our many achievements across a full spectrum of transactional and contentious practices. We secure victories, help build businesses and set precedents.

Proskauer was founded on the same bedrock values that hold true today. Hard work, mutual respect, cooperation, integrity and an unwavering dedication to client service are as integral now as when our doors first opened in 1875.

For Progress
Backed by decades of collective experience and a rich, diverse heritage, we constantly evolve to stay at the forefront. The best relationships are built on collaboration, trust and open communication. Partner with us and we will deliver on that promise, providing commercial understanding, sound judgment and insight that you can always rely on.

From our creative legal strategies, our unique proprietary data and analysis, to being the firm choice for first-in-kind matters, we are dedicated to moving your business forward.

We are influencers, trusted advisers, strategic partners, lawmakers, thought leaders, precedent setters, deal closers, and the go-to firm for a multitude of clients across a wide range of industries - we're a pioneering legal practice with an entrepreneurial edge.

For Good
Words like 'equality,' 'fairness' and 'justice' mean something to us and represent our deeply held personal values. Everyone at Proskauer is committed and encouraged to dedicate time, energy and expertise to a vast array of causes. Regardless of where we are in our professional careers, we all believe in going beyond, for good.

Our pro bono efforts break boundaries. Whether helping refugees seek asylum, aiding victims of abuse, or assisting underrepresented individuals to seek justice - we champion the rights of others and fight for their freedoms.

Through a host of initiatives, we are proud to advance in particular education, raising awareness of veterans' issues, and immigrants' rights.

At Proskauer, "for good" means giving of ourselves and making a positive impact on the lives of those less fortunate.