CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE Member board of lawyers

1. The
Friday, September 16, 2005
N e w s f o r A s s o c i a t e s a n d Yo u n g L a w y e r s
Fried Frank Associates
Join Clinton Initiative
Participation Marks Entry
Of Firm Into Worldwide
Pro Bono Involvement
BY THOMAS ADCOCK
I
F PROXIMITY to power is the
sine qua non for idealistic
young attorneys aiming to
create a better world, then 11
associates at Fried, Frank,
Harris, Shriver & Jacobson have just
entered the ground floor of what Bill
Clinton, for one, envisions as some-
thing capital-B big. NYLJ PHOTO/RICK KOPSTEIN
Fried Frank associates participating in the initiative include, seated from left, Kevin M.
Since yesterday’s open-
Bloss, Amy Lu, Anna Studd, Craig M. Price, and, standing far left, Scott J. Featherman,
ing session of the new Eve L. Filip, second from right, and David A. Szekely, far right. With the group are
partners Janice MacAvoy, second from left, and Lois F. Herzeca, center.
“Clinton Global Initiative,”
City for the annual summit of the mentation over the next year.
as the former president
United Nations General Assembly on “It’s an incredible, unique opportunity
calls it, the volunteer
four broad issues: for us,” said Kevin M. Bloss, a
associates have served as
• Reduction of world poverty; corporate associate who joined Fried
personal aides to international corpo-
• Use of religion as a force for Frank three years ago after graduating
rate chiefs, heads of state, renowned
reconciliation and conflict resolution; from the University of Minnesota Law
academics and opinion leaders and
• New business strategies and tech- School. “We feel glad to be here.
directors of public service agencies
nologies to combat climate change; To pass up this opportunity would
from around the world.
• Strengthening good political and be crazy.”
According to a statement from the
corporate governance. Mr. Bloss and his fellow associates—
New York-based William J. Clinton
Beyond talking about these matters, Eve L. Filip, Sara Tollefson, Scott J.
Foundation, the purpose of the inaugu-
the near-future aim of the conference Featherman, Anna Studd, Craig M.
ral conference is to concentrate the
is to adopt an action plan for imple- Price, David A. Szekely, Amy Lu,
attention of VIPs already in New York

2. NEW YORK LAW JOURNAL FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2005
Gordon Eng and Brian S. Lichter—will Of the man behind the Clinton Ms. Berrent returned to New York
for the most part be in contact with initiative, Mr. Eng added, “It’s always on Monday evening from Beijing,
presidents, prime ministers and refreshing when a [retired] political where she accompanied Mr. Clinton
potentates, including the likes of Tony leader does something besides improv- on a mission regarding worldwide
Blair of Britain, Mary Robinson of ing his golf handicap.” AIDS prevention and awareness.
Ireland, Victor A. Yushchenko of Brian Lichter, a real estate associate Somewhat bleary-eyed, she went
Ukraine, Thabo Mbeki of South who was part of John Kerry’s presiden- straight to work at the Sheraton New
Africa, Shimon Peres of Israel, tial campaign last year, said that “as a York Hotel, where the global initiative
Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Recep transactional attorney, you don’t get sessions are being held through
Erdogan of Turkey, Begum Khaleda Zia much opportunity to do pro bono.” Saturday night.
of Bangladesh and Jordan’s King He said he was attracted to volunteer Corporations and foundations are
Abdullah II. service with Mr. Clinton’s effort now underwriting costs of the inaugural
At an orientation held Tuesday in a due to his concern for religious conflict conference. Fried Frank is the sole law
Fried Frank conference room, Jessica and global warming, as well as his firm sponsor, with an undisclosed
Anderson of the Clinton Foundation interest in developing democracies. financial contribution.
briefed the attorneys, as best she could. In addition to Ms. Herzeca, partners
“I have no idea what a head of state registered as official conference atten-
Going Global
might need,” she said. “This is the first dees are Valerie Ford Jacob, chair of
Fried Frank’s involvement in the
time this conference has happened, Fried Frank and head of its global
Clinton initiative and conference
so there’s going to be a whole lot capital markets group; Justin
marks a new chapter in the firm’s pro
of troubleshooting.” Spendlove, managing partner and head
bono portfolio, from a traditionally
Of the world leaders involved in this of the firm’s leveraged finance practice
local effort to global involvement.
week’s U.N. agenda, which involved a in Europe; and Janice MacAvoy, a
“We think it’s something our associ-
number of contentious political topics, litigation partner who heads pro bono
ates will enjoy,” said partner Lois
Ms. Anderson added, “They’re jet- programs in the New York office.
F. Herzeca, who heads the firm’s
lagged, they’re probably operating on Ms. MacAvoy and Ms. Herzeca also
corporate governance practice. “We
four or five hours of sleep a night, and attended Tuesday’s orientation for
like to have associates committed to
maybe they’re cranky.” associates, where they heard Ms.
world events. If they can meet people
No matter, the Fried Frank associ- Anderson’s ultimate advice on dealing
who can be useful, that’s a wonderful
ates, who were accepted for volunteer tactfully with heads of state:
added benefit.”
duty on the basis of 250-word personal “Treat them like you’d want your
Ms. Herzeca was among the top
essays, expressed unqualified enthusiasm. mom treated if she was in a foreign
partners who quickly approved Fried
“It’s refreshing to hear there’s a role country,” she said.
Frank’s role in the Clinton initiative
for government in helping people. I
following a proposal last spring from
think it’s time to roll back some of the — Thomas Adcock can be reached at
corporate associate Diana Zicklin
clichés we’ve heard for the last 20 tadcock@alm.com.
Berrent, who joined the firm last year
years,” said Gordon Eng, a litigation
after graduating from Cornell Law
associate who joined the firm this year
School and a short career in politics
after a long career on Wall Street,
that included two years’ service in the
capped by volunteer service as a ham
Clinton White House and campaign
radio operator at ground zero in the This article is reprinted with permission from the
advance work for former Vice President
wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist September 16, 2005 edition of the NEW YORK LAW
Al Gore.
attacks. “I wanted to do something JOURNAL. © 2005 ALM Properties, Inc. All rights
“It didn’t pan out as we thought it
with my life besides chasing green- reserved. Further duplication without permission is
would,” said Ms. Berrent, referring to
backs, and so I chose Fried Frank in prohibited. For information, contact American
Mr. Gore’s unsuccessful 2000 presiden-
order to have a balance between serv- Lawyer Media, Reprint Department at 800-888-8300
tial bid. “So I went to law school.”
ing clients and doing pro bono work.” x6111. #070-09-05-0018