BICKEL & BREWER COUNTERS A DECLINE IN LEGAL SERVICES TO THE POOR Earns National Firm Top Pro Bono Award CONTACT: Mark Hopkinson 561/750-9800 x 15 E-mail: mhopkinson@transmediagroup.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dallas, TX, October 23, 2000 - At a time when many law firms are cutting back on pro bono work one law firm's services to the poor are so outstanding in bucking the trend that it has been awarded the 2000 Gold Award for Excellence. With nearly four thousand hours of pro bono service amassed by 39 volunteer attorneys, the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Services of North Texas have awarded the Dallas-based law firm of Bickel & Brewer the Gold Award for Excellent Service. It is the highest honor awarded for pro bono service in Dallas. Some of the honorees featured at the award ceremony included Marsha Foulks, Attorney-Director for Bickel & Brewer's Storefront who received recognition for her astounding contribution of 1,168 hours of pro bono service; Bickel & Brewer Associate Monica Larkins-Coffey who devoted 413 hours of pro bono service; and Bickel & Brewer Senior Associate Wayne S. Ball for his pro bono service totaling 412.6 hours. "While it appears that other practices are cutting back on pro bono service we firmly believe in giving back to the community. Recognition for The Storefront highlighted a staggering 3,687.65 hours of pro bono service we gave back over the year, donating any revenues generated through The Storefront to charity," said Stephen H. Gonzales, Director of the Bickel & Brewer Legal Foundation, which supports The Storefront. The Storefront had the highest net total of pro bono hours per attorney by a ratio of three to one over its market competitor. While the American Bar Association acknowledges lawyers should perform a minimum of 50 pro bono hours per year, recent media reports show pro bono service as fast diminishing. A survey conducted by American Lawyer magazine showed some of the top firms in the country were only devoting an average of 8 minutes per day to charitable cases. Bickel & Brewer established The Storefront five years ago to give charitable cases access to affordable legal representation. "Establishing The Storefront was our way to provide a public service and invest in our community. We have surpassed our initial expectations and will continue to aim for nothing less. Everyone at Bickel & Brewer feels much pride in the public service we are providing the resident of Dallas." The award was presented at last month's Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program's 18th Annual Pro Bono Award celebration run by the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Services of North Texas. Bickel & Brewer has successfully litigated landmark cases in the hospitality and high-tech industries and cases discriminating against people with disabilities. Last year, through The Storefront, the firm represented wheelchair athletes against the New York Road Runners which conducts the New York City Marathon. The suit claimed that the marathon discriminated against the wheelchair athletes barring them from opportunities for press recognition and prizes at the finish and had thus violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. As a result, the upcoming New York Marathon will adhere to new rules.