When Superstorm Sandy struck, NYLAG, a legal services organization that provides access to justice for low-income New Yorkers who cannot afford private attorneys, turned to Anderson Kill to educate the agency about insurance law and the challenges of the insurance claim process. Anderson Kill attorneys conducted in-house insurance trainings for NYLAG's storm staff and have since acted as unofficial consultants "on call" for NYLAG attorneys. Anderson Kill has also accepted several insurance cases for pro bono representation.
"NYLAG has stepped into the breach for thousands of Sandy victims in dire need of legal assistance. We have been honored by the opportunity to lend our deep experience in insurance recovery to help Sandy victims obtain the coverage for which they've paid their hard-earned dollars," said
Dennis Artese, a shareholder in Anderson Kill’s New York office who helped spearhead the initiative for the firm.
“We are grateful to Anderson Kill and the entire New York legal community. Their support made it possible for NYLAG to respond quickly and effectively to the legal needs of low-income New Yorkers at a time of unprecedented crisis,” said Yisroel Schulman, NYLAG’s President and Attorney-in Charge.
When NYLAG's own offices were flooded during Superstorm Sandy, law firms and donors across the city provided temporary office space and pro bono support. NYLAG’s legal service units were back up and running within 48 hours. NYLAG immediately reached out to legal services providers in Louisiana and Mississippi who shared their insights and lessons learned post-Katrina. With their help, NYLAG was able to train 100 of its own legal staff and subsequently more than 1,500 pro bono attorneys, including many from Anderson Kill, on the basics of disaster law, using in-depth webinars and training manuals. Recently, NYLAG has been able to “pay it forward” by advising and training legal services groups in Arkansas and Colorado after natural disasters left their communities with similar immediate legal needs.
One year later, NYLAG’s specialized Storm Response Unit - with more than two dozen attorneys and other staff members, supported by the private bar - has helped over 5,800 storm victims, making it New York State’s major provider of legal services to Sandy victims. The work continues, as many Sandy victims still face multiple legal issues that are interconnected and complicated, with many cases taking months to complete, and some housing, foreclosure, insurance and other disputes potentially lingering for years before final resolution.
About Anderson Kill
Anderson Kill practices law in the areas of Insurance Recovery, Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law, Estate, Trusts and Tax Services, Corporate and Securities, Antitrust, Bankruptcy, Real Estate and Construction, Public Law, Government Affairs, Anti-Counterfeiting, Employment and Labor Law, Captives, Intellectual Property, Corporate Tax, and Health Reform. Recognized nationwide by Chambers USA for Client Service and Commercial Awareness, and best-known for its work in insurance recovery, the firm represents policyholders only in insurance coverage disputes - with no ties to insurance companies and has no conflicts of interest. Clients include Fortune 1000 companies, small and medium-sized businesses, governmental entities, and nonprofits as well as personal estates. Based in New York City, the firm also has offices in Ventura, CA, Stamford, CT, Washington, DC, Newark, NJ, and Philadelphia, PA.
For more information, please contact:
Carol A. Ueckerman
Anderson Kill
Communications/Marketing Manager
cueckerman@andersonkill.com
(212) 278-1339