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October 15, 2009
THE GOOD WE DO: NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION
RECOGNIZES ATTORNEYS FOR PRO BONO SERVICE
New York City Attorney Donates Legal Services to
Help Renowned Pakistani Musician Receive Asylum
To commemorate the first annual Pro Bono Week (October 25-31), the
New York State Bar Association has launched a new campaign called The
Good We Do to recognize the significant contributions made by the scores
of attorneys across the state who donate their time, services and
expertise to meet the ever-growing legal needs of low-income people and
others who have been hard hit by the economic downturn. Among the
attorneys being singled out by the Association is David J. Ward of New
York City.
An associate at DLA Piper, Ward took on the case of famed Pakistani
musician Muhammad Haroon Khan, also known as Haroon Bacha, whose songs
of peace and resistance to war provoked death threats to him and his
family from the Taliban. Realizing that staying in Pakistan was
not an option, Khan fled and sought asylum in New York in
2008.
Through DLA Piper’s Pro Bono Coordinator Richard L.
Gruenberger, Ward soon heard about Khan’s plight. Though only in
practice for five years, Ward had experience working on asylum cases and
jumped at the chance to help Khan. Dedicating countless hours, Ward was
able to help Khan obtain asylum in the United States, saving his life
and allowing him to continue his successful music career. Recently,
Khan’s family also received asylum and will soon join him in New
York.
Ward said, “This really was a case of life and death. To be
able to help a great person like Haroon has been really
gratifying.”
New York State Bar Association President Michael E. Getnick (Getnick
Livingston Atkinson & Priore, LLP of Utica and of counsel to Getnick
& Getnick of New York City), said, “Increasingly, more and
more New Yorkers and worthy non-profit organizations, are finding it
harder to keep their heads above water as they try to navigate our legal
system. Whether in immigration matters, foreclosure cases, or
child custody issues, every New Yorker should have equal access to
justice. The State Bar is proud to salute attorneys, like David
Ward, who truly live the words, and justice for all.”
A graduate of University of Virginia and the University of Michigan Law
School, Ward now practices in the areas of international dispute
resolution, general commercial litigation, and reinsurance.
Founded in 1876, the 76,000-member New York State Bar Association is
the official statewide organization of lawyers in New York and the
largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. The State
Bar’s programs and activities have continuously served the public
and improved the justice system for more than 130 years.
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