The Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) of The Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) has recognized Lieff Cabraser attorneys Melissa Gardner and Phong-Chau Nguyen as Outstanding Volunteers for their 2017 pro bono work with the Homeless Advocacy Project.
Ms. Gardner and Mr. Nguyen will be personally recognized at the JDC’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration, featuring guest of honor Chief Justice of California Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, on April 10 at the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center in San Francisco.
Each year, JDC thanks the top 15 percent of people who have made extraordinary contributions to the organization. Last year, over 2,000 volunteers assisted more than 9,000 low-income clients through legal representation and related social services in nearly every area of civil law. Volunteers also provided more than 700 students with counseling, coaching and mentoring in an effort to increase diversity in the legal profession.
Congratulations, Melissa and Phong!
About Justice & Diversity Center (JDC)
The Justice & Diversity Center is one of the largest and most distinguished legal services providers in San Francisco. JDC’s primary purpose is the delivery of free legal services to low-income San Franciscans, as well as the non-profits that serve them. JDC delivers free legal services through its Legal Services Programs division, which consists of the Pro Bono Legal Services Program, Homeless Advocacy Project, and the Immigration Program. JDC provides enrichment programs to diverse youth and young adults through its Diversity Educational Programs.
JDC’s programs serve approximately 9,500 disadvantaged San Franciscans a year, with the overarching goal of assisting the community’s most vulnerable members with accessing the judicial system and strengthening their personal, professional, and economic security.
About Melissa Gardner
Melissa Gardner is an associate in Lieff Cabraser’s San Francisco office. A graduate of Harvard Law School, she was a semi-finalist in the Harvard Ames Moot Court Competition, as well as a Student Attorney with the Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project and South Brooklyn Legal Services.
About Phong-Chau Nguyen
Phong-Chau G. Nguyen is a partner in Lieff Cabraser’s San Francisco office specializing in consumer and defective product cases, as well as personal injury/mass tort matters. He is part of the leadership team in the Volkswagen Diesel Emissions multidistrict litigation, which secured an unprecedented $14+ billion in settlements on behalf of U.S. owners and lessees of Volkswagen diesel vehicles, and won a finalist position for the 2017 Consumer Attorneys of California “Consumer Attorneys of the Year” award. Phong is also involved in similar work on Lieff Cabraser’s leadership team in the Fiat Chrysler diesel emissions case.
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