2020 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

60%

OF THE 2020 SUMMER ASSOCIATE CLASS BELONG TO UNDERREPRESENTED DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS

44%

OF NGE LAWYERS WHO LEAD FIRMWIDE COMMITTEES ARE WOMEN

IN 2020, NGE HELD 10 ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACISM AND INCLUSION

WHILE MOST NGE PROCESSES ARE PAPERLESS, WE MOVED TO ELECTRONIC BILLING

SAVING AN ADDITIONAL 40 TREES, THE EQUIVALENT OF 2.75 TONS OF WASTE, FROM BEING LANDFILLED

WE ELIMINATED SINGLE-SERVE COFFEE PODS, REDUCING DISPOSAL OF PRO BONO HOURS WORKED

COFFEE PODS EACH YEAR

SAVING 1 TON OF WASTE FROM BEING LANDFILLED

A 46.5% INCREASE FROM 2019 FOR THE TIMES WE STILL NEED PAPER, CURRENTLY MORE THAN VALUE OF PRO BONO HOURS WORKED

OF OUR PAPER PRODUCTS

ARE MADE FROM POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED PAPER

* R E P OR TI N G P E R I O D DE F I NED AS 1 0/ 201 9 - 9/ 2020 2020 CORPORAT E SOCIAL R ES P O N S I B I L I TY R EP O R T

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Scott J. Fisher, Managing Partner 2020 has been a tough, painful year for so many. We were challenged by an unprecedented global health crisis, which was magnified by an economic crisis, and we witnessed the understandable fear and frustration from so many whose voices still go unheard. In these unprecedented times, I am proud that the values and character of Neal Gerber Eisenberg were unwavering and unmistakable. Our attorneys and staff responded holistically to support the communities where we live and work, and some far beyond. We also supported each other in these times of need.

Pro bono work matters to our firm, and protecting human rights and access to justice remains at the core of our mission. Our connection to our communities, however, extends far beyond our pro bono counsel.

As active corporate citizens, we have sustainability efforts that broadly encompass our firm’s relationship with its people, our communities, and our responsibility in maintaining the long-term viability of both. We improve access to justice, advance diversity and inclusion, promote environmental sustainability and support community initiatives at the local level and beyond.

We are a values-driven business, and making the world a better place is a priority. In the following pages of our “Corporate Social Responsibility Report,” you will find examples of pro bono counsel that NGE provided throughout the pandemic to a variety of organizations, such as the Office of the Governor of Illinois in its efforts to mobilize and support healthcare workers, and the Illinois Supreme Court through emergency orders and temporary rule changes to protect consumers and limit unnecessary in-person court appearances during the pandemic. You will also find examples of our community engagement: from sewing masks for frontline workers, to donating personal protection equipment to nonprofit organizations, to writing letters to encourage community members to vote. We also emphasize our firm’s commitment to respect, collaboration and inclusion, and the ways we worked to help give voice to those feeling voiceless.

Thank you to our friends and clients for your continuing support during this unique moment in our lives. The trust and confidence you consistently repose in us is meaningful and humbling. We hope you share our pride in the myriad efforts of our attorneys and staff to help our communities navigate these turbulent times.

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Steven F. Pflaum, Pro Bono Committee Chair Any commentary regarding 2020 has to begin by acknowledging the pervasive impact of COVID-19 on virtually all human endeavors. The practice of law was certainly not immune to the virus, and neither was the cry for pro bono legal services. To the contrary, the impact of the pandemic on individuals, families, businesses, charitable organizations, and governments exposed and exacerbated the extent to which the legal system had already been falling short of meeting the needs of the disadvantaged.

Neal Gerber Eisenberg lawyers responded to this heightened need and to the formidable challenges that it presented. While physically distanced from each other since mid-March, we were never more unified in pursuit of the ideals to which our firm and our profession are dedicated.

Numbers tell part, but not all, of this story. The amount of time that NGE lawyers devoted to pro bono matters jumped nearly 50 percent over the prior year. More than 80 percent of our partners and every single one of our associates devoted time to pro bono. A record number of attorneys achieved “NGE Pro Bono All-Star” status by volunteering more than 50 hours to pro bono matters during the course of the past 12 months. Prompted by awareness of the financial strain that many legal aid organizations were experiencing, we also set a new benchmark in terms of the percentage of NGE attorneys who contributed to the Chicago Bar Foundation’s annual Investing in Justice Campaign.

Of course, 2020 was not just a watershed year due to COVID-19. When a series of tragedies spotlighted issues ranging from systemic racism to climate change, our firm refocused and redoubled its efforts in the areas of diversity and inclusion and sustainability.

As suggested by the “Corporate Social Responsibility” title to this year’s report, the following pages go beyond describing the firm’s pro bono activities by also chronicling the many additional ways in which NGE attorneys have endeavored to shoulder the responsibility that we bear as members of the legal profession, our firm, and our community. Many years from now, may 2020 be remembered as a time when, physically separated but united in purpose and resolve, NGE lawyers and staff responded to an extraordinary set of challenges with commensurate dedication, compassion, and selflessness.

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Providing Vital Services in a Crisis Pro bono work has always been a cornerstone of our firm’s mission. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the United States in the early months of 2020, our firm came together—while working remotely—to respond to the heightened needs of the most vulnerable members of our communities. Focusing on those who have been disproportionately impacted by the virus, our attorneys and staff answered the call to help protect healthcare workers, guard the health and finances of the elderly and others at risk and improve access to justice at a time when much of the court system was shut down.

I NV E STIN G IN JU STIC E CAMPAIGN The firm’s lawyers have supported the Chicago Bar Foundation’s Investing in Justice Campaign since 2008.

This year, in the face of a pandemic that simultaneously generated additional need for services from legal aid organizations and interfered with many of their traditional fundraising activities, the firm’s attorneys stepped up.

Evincing recognition of their responsibility to contribute financially, as well as with their services, to efforts to serve the less fortunate members of our community, 91% of our lawyers made a contribution to the Chicago Bar Foundation’s Investing in Justice Campaign. The Campaign raises funds for more than 30 pro bono and legal aid organizations that provide critical legal assistance to tens of thousands of people in need in the Chicago area. Those grants are more important now than ever.

NGE increased participation in the Investing in Justice Campaign from 70% in 2018, to 85% in 2019, to 91% in 2020.

D ONATING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND EMPOWERING NONPROFITS TO D O THE SAME To protect frontline heroes, NGE donated personal protective equipment (PPE) to CommunityHealth, the GINA SHKOUKANI ERIC M. MCLIMORE nation’s largest free clinic, and to nonprofit Unified Under Hope (UUH), an organization that distributes PPE to hospitals, food pantries and schools. Associates Eric M. McLimore and Gina Shkoukani also assisted UUH in working to secure 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS. 04

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WO RK I N G WI T H TH E IL L IN O IS S U PR EME COURT TO PROTECT CONSUMERS AN D T H E MOST VUL N E RA B L E Partner Steven F. Pflaum, co-chair of the firm’s Litigation practice group, has worked on several ongoing initiatives to help the Illinois justice system navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time early in the pandemic when most courts were closed, Steve worked with lawyers from the creditors’ bar and legal aid groups to draft an emergency order enabling consumers with judgments against them to exercise their $4,000 “wild card” exemption from judgment enforcement proceedings. The Illinois Supreme Court adopted and issued the emergency order in April, thereby preserving access to emergency funds, including CARES Act payments and income tax refunds, for many who had lost their jobs or been furloughed.

STEVEN F. PFLAUM

More recently, Steve helped draft a proposed Illinois Supreme Court order that encourages judges to decide applications for waivers of court fees on the papers and directs them to hold hearings by telephone or videoconference when hearings are needed. That proposal was submitted to and supported by the Illinois Supreme Court’s Court Operations During COVID-19 Task Force, and was ultimately adopted by the Court. The goal of these and other temporary rule changes was to limit unnecessary in-person court appearances during the pandemic, which required innovative measures to maintain access to justice while also ensuring the health and safety of litigants, court personnel and the public.

A DV I S I N G T H E O F FIC E O F THE GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS Partners Jonathan S. Quinn, Robert “Rudy” Radasevich, Tonya G. Newman, and Andrew G. May, Of Counsel Stephen Fedo, and Counsel Paul Walker-Bright devoted more than 100 pro bono hours to assist the Office of the Governor of Illinois in its efforts to mobilize and support healthcare workers. NGE attorneys focused on legal and policy issues related to the Governor’s authority to limit liability for medical providers during health crises.

JONATHAN S. QUINN

ROBERT RADASEVICH

TONYA G. NEWMAN

ANDREW G. MAY

STEPHEN FEDO

PAUL WALKER-BRIGHT

LE G A L A I D C H IC AGO The need for public benefits has exploded as the COVID-19 pandemic caused millions to lose their jobs and health coverage. Associates Kathryn L. Kaler, Jonathan Levine and Gina Shkoukani responded by participating in a Legal Aid Chicago program that entailed contacting clients who needed help applying for public benefits such as food stamps, Medicaid or cash assistance. Kathryn, Jonathan and Gina also answered client questions about the nature and extent of available benefits and helped them complete online applications.

KATHRYN L. KALER

JONATHAN LEVINE

GINA SHKOUKANI

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Protecting Fundamental Rights F IGH T ING CONSUMER FRAUD Partner Mike R. Turner represented an elderly neighbor, a decorated veteran of World War II, who was victimized by a fraudulent home repair. The client, now in his 90s, was having increasing difficulty managing the stairs to use the MIKE R. TURNER washer and dryer in the basement of his home. He hired a contractor to move the washer and dryer to the main floor.

After paying for the work in cash, per the contractor’s demand, the materials for the project were not delivered and the work was not performed. The client was informed by a different contractor that he had been grossly overcharged and likely defrauded. At this point, Mike stepped in to investigate and was able to negotiate a full recovery of the client’s losses from the contractor’s employer.

R E DU C IN G DE L AYS FACED BY CRIMINAL APPELLANTS There is a backlog of more than 1,849 criminal appeals currently pending with the Office of the State Appellate Defender (OSAD). To assist criminal defendants seeking to exercise their rights to an appeal, Of Counsel Michael D. Sher, Associate Collette A. Woghiren and Associate Counsel Michael W. Lubeley reviewed appellate records, conducted preliminary research and drafted summaries of appellate records to help OSAD lawyers identify potential issues on appeal. Other firm lawyers, including Counsel Paul Walker-Bright, have participated in a pro bono program sponsored by the Illinois Supreme Court involving the direct representation of criminal defendants with their appeals.

MICHAEL D. SHER

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PAUL WALKER-BRIGHT

Mike R. Turner (left) and his neighbor, George Malcheff (right).

S E C U R IN G ASYLU M FOR TRANSGEND ER WOMAN Associate Jonathan Levine worked with the National Immigrant Justice Center and attorneys Candice Korkis and Jamie Benjamin from BMO Financial Group to obtain asylum for a transgender woman from Malawi. The client faced constant verbal and physical abuse from her JONATHAN LEVINE neighbors and the police in her native country. She was unable to keep a job or even rent a place to live because of her gender identity. Fearing for her life if she stayed in Malawi, she fled to the United States and settled in Chicago. After obtaining asylum with the help of Jonathan and his colleagues, she is now studying for her GED and hopes to eventually become a nurse.

ADDRESSING POLICE MISCONDUCT First Defense Legal Aid (FDLA) mobilizes lawyers and community members to fill gaps in public defense in Illinois and to create, protect and engage replicable alternatives to the criminal system starting with its entry points; for example, by connecting individuals in need of aid during a mental health crisis to trained mental health counselors rather than police first responders. FDLA created a Civil Rights Legal Aid Program to represent Chicagoans who have experienced police misconduct and are seeking civil relief and justice in federal court, but cannot find a private attorney to take their case. Through this program, FDLA also seeks to serve as a catalyst for policy, practice and cultural changes in policing, with the intent of deterring future abuse. To assist with FDLA’s efforts, Partners H. Nicholas Berberian and Steven F. Pflaum (co-chairs of the firm’s Litigation practice group), along with Summer Associates Benjamin Boris and Kathleen Okon, researched and summarized federal case law regarding protest-related police misconduct and cases involving nominal or low damages awards in civil rights lawsuits.

H. NICHOLAS BERBERIAN

STEVEN F. PFLAUM

ADVOCATING FOR MEDICAL CARE FOR PRISO N E RS Partner Andrew G. May and Associate Daniel M. Terhune secured a favorable settlement for their pro bono prisoner client in a civil rights lawsuit alleging failure to provide adequate medical treatment. Andrew was appointed as pro bono counsel in December 2018 to represent a prisoner who claimed that he was denied proper medical treatment while in custody. After obtaining the client’s medical records and conducting ANDREW G. MAY DANIEL M. TERHUNE an investigation, Andrew and Dan filed an amended complaint alleging that the defendants ignored signs of the client’s worsening arthritis and failed to modify the client’s treatment plan when his condition was not improving. After a motion to dismiss was overcome and written discovery was conducted, the parties mediated the case before the magistrate judge by videoconference in August 2020 and reached a settlement. The client had never filed a lawsuit before and was extremely grateful to Andrew and Dan for the result they were able to achieve.

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Supporting a Wide Array of Nonprofit Organizations PL ANET WORD MUSEUM Planet Word Museum, which opened in Washington, D.C., on October 22, 2020, is a technologically advanced immersive language environment located in the newly renovated Franklin School building, a MARSHALL E. EISENBERG National Historic Landmark. Planet Word is the first major museum dedicated to advancing literacy. It is the world’s first voice-activated museum and includes interactive galleries and exhibits to bring words and language to life for visitors of all ages. Partners Marshall E. Eisenberg, David S. Martin and Earl N. Melamed, Of Counsel Stephen Fedo and Associate Eric M. McLimore are assisting Planet Word in several matters, including securing favorable recognition under applicable tax laws for the public support the museum expects to receive.

DAVID S. MARTIN

EARL N. MELAMED

STEPHEN FEDO

ERIC M. MCLIMORE

Planet Word Museum’s home is in the Franklin School, a National Historic Landmark in Washington, D.C.

M E A L S ON W HEEL S The mission of Meals on Wheels Chicago is to ensure that Chicago seniors and individuals with disabilities benefit from nutritious meal programs that improve their quality of life and maximize independence. Meals on Wheels Chicago delivers meals to seniors and to individuals with disabilities, and it coordinates a “Love Notes” program to deliver cards along with meals to the homebound meal recipients. Partner Leah A. Schleicher, Of Counsel Lisa S. Zebovitz and Associates Corinne “Corey” Biller and David G. Weldon assisted Meals on Wheels Chicago with several pro bono matters, including review and negotiation of commercial leases and employment counseling and advice. Corey and David also reviewed and revised the organization’s employee handbook.

LEAH A. SCHLEICHER LISA S. ZEBOVITZ DAVID G. WELDON CORINNE BILLER 08

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I NTERFAITH YOUTH CORE Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) is a national nonprofit organization that envisions an America where people of different faiths, worldviews and traditions can bridge differences and find common values to build a shared life together. Before THOMAS C. MCDONOUGH DAVID A. WHEELER the COVID-19 pandemic, IFYC was in the early stages of expanding its digital resources and partnerships with educational institutions. During the pandemic, IFYC ramped up efforts to expand its online offerings to meet the increased need for remote learning. This increased effort created new intellectual property and privacyrelated issues. Partners Thomas C. McDonough (co-chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group) and David A. Wheeler, with Associates Abigail Flores and Andrea S. Fuelleman, counseled IFYC regarding intellectual property and related issues, including the development and protection of digital ANDREA S. FUELLEMAN ABIGAIL FLORES assets and resources, the development of brand use guidelines and best practices for collaborating with educational institutions. In addition, NGE reviewed collaboration and strategic relation agreements with universities and other educational institutions and counseled IFYC on terms relating to trademarks, copyrights, IP protection, technical infrastructure, technology, anti-hacking and student privacyrelated concerns.

C EN TE R FO R ADVANCING D OMESTIC PEACE Partner Douglas M. Ellis represented the Center for Advancing Domestic Peace (CADP) in connection with the acquisition of its headquarters in Chicago. CADP works to stop domestic violence where it starts by helping individuals who have harmed an intimate partner examine the beliefs they have used to justify their abuse, take responsibility for their actions and develop the communication DOUGLAS M. ELLIS skills essential for creating safe and healthy relationships. Through training and public education, CADP also seeks to strengthen the coordinated community response to domestic violence. Doug worked with CADP on all aspects of the transaction to acquire its headquarters, including drafting and negotiating the purchase agreement and closing documents, negotiating loan documents, preparing resolutions and other organizational documents and providing general transactional guidance.

C H AL L E N GE AM ERICA Challenge America is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect service members, veterans and their families to resources and solutions that build community. Ending a multiyear trademark dispute, Partner Bradley Rademaker and Associate Andrea S. Fuelleman helped Challenge America reach a settlement agreement with the National Endowment for the Arts that maintains Challenge America’s federal trademark registration for its “Challenge America” mark and retains its exclusive rights in that mark for its art, music and theater-related therapy community service projects for veterans and their families. With the rights in its mark settled, Challenge America was able to return its focus to its community service efforts and expand its footprint among veteran acclimation programs.

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Diversity and inclusion are vital components of NGE’s culture, identity and strategic vision. We recognize the compelling business reasons for a diverse and inclusive workplace — more effective teams, better solutions and superior results for our clients. We also strive for a work environment that offers more than respectful coexistence. NGE endeavors to be a firm where: people can be their authentic selves because we see and celebrate them on their terms; we continue to seek out speakers and colleagues who challenge restrictive views of inclusion; the promotion of an inclusive environment is everyone’s responsibility, and everyone understands that we are all beneficiaries; and we discuss and address challenges unique to our colleagues from historically underrepresented groups.

Events this year have strengthened our resolve. Against the backdrop of a global health crisis, the country experienced a long-overdue reckoning with institutional racism laid bare by repeated examples of police misconduct.

To meet the moment, we focused first on our people. The firm hosted ten virtual roundtable discussions on systemic racism and current events, including the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others. Attorneys and staff shared painful stories reflecting the lack of societal progress and discussed personal accountability for change.

NGE also conducted speaker-led programs focused on education and action.

Kate Harrington-Rosen led an interactive workshop for firm employees and clients on anti-racism, “Navigating Difficult Conversations About Race, Diversity and Inequity,” that provided a framework for understanding bias, prejudice and oppression and how those concepts play out in interpersonal and workplace settings. In another presentation, “Coping with the Loss of Normalcy During COVID,” Dr. Caroline Adelman addressed the mental health impacts of racism, including the vicarious trauma that people of color can experience when witnessing racist conduct directed at others. A licensed Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Adelman articulated in psychological terms the “emotional roller coaster” of these times and offered evidence-based coping mechanisms.

NGE is a proud partner and annual supporter of the Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund of Illinois (HLSF).

For over 20 years, the HLSF has awarded nearly a half million dollars in scholarships and fellowship ALEXIS M. DOMINGUEZ opportunities to Latino law students based on merit, financial need and commitment to the Latino community. Associate Alexis M. Dominguez is a member of the HLSF Board.

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Navigating Difficult Conversations about race, diversity, and inequity

Partner Olivia Luk Bedi was recently selected to serve on the newly created Racial Justice Diversity Committee for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The Committee was created to review procedures and OLIVIA LUK BEDI practices to help the Court address racial disparities. The Committee will evaluate methods that may help overcome barriers to achieving the goal of equal justice for all, and will release a public report to the Court and bar with its recommendations.

LEAD ERSHIP FROM THE TOP Recognizing that leadership for D&I efforts must come from the top, our firm’s Executive Committee plans and executes strategic diversity initiatives. The firm has made “diversity and inclusion” a standing agenda item for every monthly Executive Committee meeting.

Our firm’s Managing Partner, Scott J. Fisher, co-chairs the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion LEAH A. SCHLEICHER ROBERT G. GERBER SCOTT J. FISHER Committee along with Partner Leah A. Schleicher, who also chairs the Associate Review Committee. Partner Robert G. Gerber, who is the firm’s Summer Associate Committee Hiring Chair and chairs the firm’s Corporate & Securities practice group, serves as a sponsor in the firm’s Sponsorship Initiative—a program through which senior lawyers help develop talented junior partners from underrepresented groups.

These and other efforts help to ensure that diversity and inclusion are top-of-mind in all of the firm’s operations. For the second year in a row, and after NGE’s second full year in the Mansfield Rule program, the firm achieved Mansfield Certification. It received the honor for affirmatively considering diverse candidate pools for leadership and governance roles, promotions, pitch opportunities and senior lateral positions.

S UP P O RT I N G LGBTQ IA+ EQ UAL ITY AND HONORING P R I DE MO N T H NGE remains strongly committed to LGBTQIA+ equality, and to fostering an inclusive environment where we see each other as individuals instead of simply representatives of groups. We recognize that effective LGBTQIA+ inclusion requires an ongoing evolution of our thinking and constant reevaluation of our policies and practices.

Our firm has taken steps to be more inclusive and welcoming of individuals whose gender identity is non-binary. We redesigned our Voluntary Employee Self-Identification Form to be more inclusive of individuals along the gender identity spectrum. The firm has encouraged all attorneys and staff to share their gender pronouns in their contact information — including email signatures, business cards and bios. NGE also added gender identification as an option in the firm’s employment application form.

Every year, our firm offers a diversity-related curriculum that is both educational and interactive. In February 2020, NGE hosted speaker and writer Ellen “Ellie” Krug for a powerful, in-person program on “Gray Area Thinking.” Ellie transitioned from male to female in 2009 and later became one of the few attorneys nationally to have tried jury cases in different genders. She discussed what ELLEN KRUG it means to be transgender and our tendency as humans to categorize and group others who are different from us. She also offered tools to limit tribal behaviors and the “black and white” thinking they produce.

For Pride Month in June 2020, NGE invited Dr. Leila J. Rupp for a virtual fireside chat with our Managing Partner Scott J. Fisher.

Leila is the Interim Anne and Michael Towbes Graduate Dean and distinguished scholar at the University of California in Santa Barbara, and one of the leading voices on the history of same-sex sexuality. Dr. Rupp and Scott discussed the historical struggle for LGBTQIA+ equality.

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Neal Gerber Eisenberg Sustainability Policy Sustainability is central to NGE’s corporate social responsibility program. Because we are active corporate citizens, our sustainability efforts inform virtually every aspect of our firm’s relationship with its people, our communities and our responsibility in maintaining the long-term viability of both. As a values-driven business, our firm prioritizes making the world a better place. We are proud to be an integral part of the communities in which we work and live, and for more than three decades our attorneys and staff have generously shared their compassion, time and legal experience to help those around us. We improve access to justice, advance diversity and inclusion, promote environmental sustainability and support community initiatives at the local level and beyond.

We focus our sustainability efforts on developing ambitious and quantifiable environmental, social and governance standards, and we are committed to making a positive impact through our work with our people, our environment and the way we run our firm.

E N V IR O N MENTAL RESPONSIBILITY We recognize our responsibility in taking care of the natural environment and resources we all share, and we are committed to minimizing the impact our firm has on the environment. Our environmental footprint strategy seeks to address greenhouse gas emissions and waste across our operations as we strive to continually strengthen our environmental practices. We aim to lower our direct and indirect emissions through improved and more efficient energy consumption, environmentally friendly travel policies and reducing the waste that we send to landfills.

GOV ER N ANCE RESPONSIB ILITY Our commitment to responsible governance reflects our culture of operational excellence, high professional and ethical standards and responsible business practices. Our strategic vision recognizes that integrity, respect, collaboration and inclusion are the values against which our decisions are weighed. Our leadership has developed goals and processes to measure our commitment and to ensure that we retain our focus. That includes a standing agenda item for our board on diversity and inclusion, and a regular review of succession planning and leadership development. These commitments demonstrate our intent to lead responsibly in any environment.

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SOCIA L RE SP ON SI B I L I T Y We put people at the center of everything we do and we strive to empower our people to improve their lives and reach their full potential. We believe that genuine organizational inclusion fosters a more diverse workforce where diverse voices are heard, ideas are considered, bold thinking is valued and people can grow to their fullest potential. Through training, education and opportunity, we have cultivated a culture where we strive for a firm where everyone can come to work as their authentic self, and where “covering” is not part of being successful at our firm. We are committed to supporting and sustaining the holistic well-being of our attorneys and staff, and through our pro bono and community efforts we strive to enhance the well-being of others in our community.

O U R E F FO R TS TO R E DU CE, REUSE AND RECYCLE We are committed to achieving energy performance improvement across our business by continually conserving energy, reducing consumption and waste and promoting recycling in our office. Among many implemented steps, we: • Use a secure electronic filing system, meaningfully reducing the need for any paper files • Reduced our energy consumption significantly by moving to a more virtualized server infrastructure • Converted our lighting to low voltage LED lighting, and added motion sensors to reduce energy use during recent construction projects • Installed low-flow aerators for kitchen and bathroom sinks • Installed flow controlled water utilities in toilet flush systems • Invested in energy efficient appliances and computers, and continue to manage our purchases to improve our energy performance • Implemented double-sided printing and copying as defaults • Replaced all single-use bottled water with water pitchers for all meetings • Promote alternative transportation through our Divvy bike program and secure bike parking • Monitor our energy use and our direct greenhouse gas emissions, and strive to make year-on-year reductions • Are implementing firmwide policies to minimize the impact of business travel • Manage the purchase of goods and services, and seek to use them more sustainably • Ensure that environmental conditions are taken into account in relation to our property and facilities management NGE’s Sustainability Committee oversees the firm’s practices designed to reduce our footprint on the environment, and through education and interactive events, seeks to continually raise awareness of our environmental impacts, the methods to reduce them and improve our energy performance. We strongly believe that sustainable practices are necessary for a better future and are proud to be among the leaders in promoting sustainable practices in the legal industry.

SUSTAINAB ILITY PAR T N E RSH I P S We were among the first firms to join the EPA and ABA’s Climate Challenge conforming to requirements of paper use, waste management and energy conservation under the EPA’s Energy Star Program. In addition, NGE has taken a leadership role in the legal industry as a member of the Law Firm Sustainability Network (LFSN), sharing its vision with other green law firms to improve the entire industry’s sustainable practices. We participate in LFSN’s American Legal Industry Sustainability Standard (ALISS), a web-based tool that serves both as a roadmap of best practices and an objective measure of a firm’s sustainability efforts.

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Supporting Local Community Initiatives NGE’s commitment to its community was once again demonstrated by time and resources volunteered by the firm’s attorneys and staff to serve grassroots initiatives and community-based organizations.

ASS ISTIN G THE E L DERLY DURING THE PAND EMIC The Center for Disability and Elder Law (CDEL) manages a Housing Preservation Project to help low-income seniors throughout Cook County, Illinois, who need legal services to preserve their homeownership rights. Through their Senior Tax Opportunity Program (STOP), CDEL works with the Cook County Assessor’s Office to obtain the names of senior citizens whose properties are subject to the annual Cook County tax sale. At the beginning of the pandemic, and before the tax sale was postponed due to COVID-19, the Office Services team at NGE supported this program by printing and mailing more than 1,100 letters to senior citizens in Cook County, advising them of the impending tax sale and how to seek assistance from CDEL. S EW IN G C IR C L E NGE staff came together early in the pandemic to sew urgently needed face masks for healthcare workers, retail workers, family and friends. The NGE Sewing Circle includes Director of Research & Competitive Intelligence Diana Koppang, Senior Software Trainer Cynthia Wright, Research Analyst Laura Kopen, Legal Assistants Cheryl Dennis and Melissa Jeronimo, Portfolio & Project Coordinator Aidan O. Gilbert and several NGE family members. Together, they sewed more than 1,000 masks and donated them to local hospitals, ambulance teams, nursing homes and neighbors.

Colorful masks sewn by NGE employees.

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“The Giving Tree” at Partner Antony J. McShane’s home. Antony’s wife Maureen Collins sewed more than 250 masks.

P R OT E CT I N G AN D PR O M OTIN G TH E EX ERCISE OF S UF F R AG E R I G H TS NGE offered a paid half-day to its workforce on Election Day, November 3, 2020, to allow all employees to vote or to support the rights of others to vote. NGE’s decision to provide a paid half-day off to encourage voting is part of our firm’s continuing commitment to equality and civic responsibility. Election Day was the culmination of a variety of efforts by NGE attorneys and staff to encourage, facilitate and protect the exercise of suffrage rights.

V I R TUA L L E T T E R-W R ITIN G PAR TY TO GET OUT THE VOTE Vote Forward is a national nonprofit organization that works to empower grassroots volunteers to help register voters from under-represented demographics and encourage them to vote. Partners Cristina W. DeMento, Michael B. Gray and Earl N. Melamed, Associate Andrea S. Fuelleman, Chief Operating Officer Sonia Menon, Director of Talent & Diversity Marlon Lutfiyya and other NGE staff gathered for a virtual letter-writing session to encourage individuals to vote. The NGE participants “adopted” voters and drafted personal, nonpartisan letters to encourage recipients to cast a ballot.

CRISTINA W. DEMENTO

ANDREA S. FUELLEMAN

MICHAEL B. GRAY

SONIA MENON

EARL N. MELAMED

E L E CT ION P ROT E CT ION

ANDREW G. MAY

LISA S. ZEBOVITZ

Election Protection is a national, nonpartisan coalition that operates under the auspices of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law to provide voters with comprehensive information and assistance at all stages of voting. Partners Cristina W. DeMento, Andrew G. May, Of Counsel Lisa S. Zebovitz, Senior Counsel Tina L. Winer and Associate Daniel M. Terhune staffed a hotline to answer voter questions about the voting process, including how to register to vote, options for early and absentee voting, the location of local polling places and voting identification requirements.

The Election Protection hotline played a critical role in safeguarding the integrity of the democratic process for both parties. For example, Andrew fielded a call from a voter who reported that a poll worker in Texas was selecting (and not unselecting) Donald Trump for president when demonstrating to voters how the electronic voting machines worked.

Andrew likewise fielded a call from another voter in Illinois who reported that an individual was passing out flyers to voters at the door of a polling place that encouraged them to vote for Democratic party candidates.

TINA L. WINER

DANIEL M. TERHUNE

MARLON LUTFIYYA 2020 CORPORAT E SOCIAL R ES P O N S I B I L I TY R EP O R T

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This year, Partner John J. Koenigsknecht was elected President of the Board of Directors for CommunityHealth, one of the firm’s long-standing pro bono clients.

CommunityHealth is the largest volunteer-based free medical facility in the United States. CommunityHealth, at no cost to its patients, provides compassionate and comprehensive medical and dental care, prescription medications, mental health services and lab testing to the uninsured in Chicago and surrounding communities. John has served on the CommunityHealth board for more than 10 years. He most recently served as Vice President of the Board of Directors.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, free health clinics like CommunityHealth that serve everyone, regardless of ability to pay or immigration status, have provided a vital line of defense against the disease. Thanks to the selfless and courageous efforts of its physicians and staff, and to its provision of medical services that include onsite testing for COVID-19, telemedicine appointments and in-person care, CommunityHealth underscores the importance of providing access to healthcare to an underserved population that has suffered disproportionately from the virus.

JOHN J. KOENIGSKNECHT

Lakeview Pantry is one of Chicago’s largest and longest-operating food pantries.

Its mission is to eliminate hunger and poverty in the community by providing food and social service programs. Lakeview Pantry also offers individual counseling, group therapy and mental health resources. This year, Lakeview Pantry is celebrating 50 years of community engagement, action and collaboration, and is on track to provide more than 100,000 clients with four million meals.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lakeview Pantry moved quickly to modify its food distribution model to get food to those who need it most while keeping clients, volunteers and staff safe. Just weeks into the pandemic, Lakeview Pantry saw a 400% increase in demand for its grocery services. Between March and May, Lakeview Pantry served more than 6,000 individuals a week throughout all Chicago neighborhoods.

Partner David S. Stone, as chair of the Lakeview Pantry Finance Committee and a member of its Executive Committee, oversees Lakeview Pantry’s financial matters. To protect and advance Lakeview Pantry’s mission, David and Associate Eric M. McLimore advised Lakeview Pantry regarding a Paycheck Protection Program loan, and David negotiated lease arrangements for Lakeview Pantry to use Wrigley Field and another location as temporary food packing and distribution sites. During the three months when Lakeview Pantry operated a temporary pantry site at Wrigley Field, volunteers packed and distributed more than 74,000 boxes of a two-week supply of food for those in need.

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DAVID S. STONE

ERIC M. MCLIMORE

Gateway Foundation is the largest nonprofit provider of substance use disorder treatment in the United States. To serve members in the community, Gateway treats addiction as a disease and takes a holistic approach to addiction and addiction-related mental health problems. With increased need during the pandemic, Gateway continues to offer highly personalized addiction treatment programs for patients from every walk of life at all stages of recovery, both in-person and virtually. Associates Corinne “Corey” Biller and Gina Shkoukani serve on the Young Professionals Board for Gateway.

GINA SHKOUKANI

CORINNE BILLER

The James R. Jordan Foundation provides a pathway out of poverty by empowering youth to achieve their full potential. The Foundation creates networks of support for families and communities, motivates youth and ensures high-quality academic opportunities for youth in underserved communities. Partner William J. Tarnow, chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment practice group, serves on the Board of Directors of the Foundation, and the firm has provided the Foundation with pro bono counseling and advice for several years. This year, Bill Tarnow and WILLIAM J. TARNOW several other supporting NGE attorneys provided employment, corporate and operational counseling to the Foundation. As one project of significant note, Bill and the NGE team worked closely with Sotheby’s to arrange for a special auction of Michael Jordan’s personal memorabilia to benefit the Foundation’s mission. All proceeds from the auction benefitted the Foundation. Through these and other efforts — including planning and running the separate annual Foundation fundraiser — Bill and the NGE team have worked in close partnership with the Foundation to help advance its fantastic mission.

MICHAEL G. KELBER

Keshet develops and hosts programs for children and adults with intellectual challenges in the Chicago area and provides consulting services internationally. Through its programming and consulting, Keshet provides tools necessary for successful inclusion and strives to do whatever is necessary to allow individuals with disabilities to achieve their potential. Partner Michael G. Kelber, co-chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group, is a Keshet Board Member and Governance Committee Chair, and Senior Counsel Phillip L. Stern is an outgoing Board Member and continuing member of the Finance Committee. This year, Michael, Phil and Associate Jacob H. Calvert reviewed and revamped Keshet’s bylaws. In addition, NGE supported Keshet through a leadership transition that culminated with the appointment of Jennifer Phillips to the role of CEO. Senior Counsel Gerald A. Golden was instrumental in counseling Keshet through that transition process. Gerry and Associate Alexis M. Dominguez also routinely counsel Keshet regarding compliance with workplace laws and regulations.

ALEXIS M. DOMINGUEZ PHILLIP L. STERN JACOB H. CALVERT GERALD A. GOLDEN 2020 CORPORAT E SOCIAL R ES P O N S I B I L I TY R EP O R T

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NGE attorneys serve as leaders in the community through service on a variety of charitable, civic and educational boards.

CHARITY/SOCIAL SERVICE

CIVIC

EDUCATIONAL

• • • • • • • • •

• • • •

• • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

All Stars Project Aurelio M. Caccomo Family Foundation Carol Lavin Bernick Family Foundation Chicago Cares Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund The Cradle Debicki Foundation Family Service Center of Wilmette Foundation for Hearing and Speech Rehabilitation Girls on the Run Chicago Help for Children The Hillels of Illinois Inner-City Education Program James R. Jordan Foundation Karen Sue Lavin Foundation Kenneth Young Center Keshet Kid Support, Inc. Lakeview Pantry Leonard and Ruth Horwich Family Foundation Leslie J. Raffel Foundation Lutheran Social Services of Illinois Margot and Thomas Pritzker Family Foundation Matthew and Carolyn S. Bucksbaum Family Foundation Morris and Judith Rosenzweig Family Foundation Muslim Foster Care Association Nick’s Network of Hope Square One Foundation

• • • • • • • • • • • •

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE • • • • • • • • • •

MEDICAL SERVICES AND RESEARCH • • •

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CommunityHealth The Kennedy Forum of Illinois Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation

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American Friends of Versailles American Jewish Committee American Writers Museum City of Highwood Board of Fire & Police Commissioners The Civic Federation Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law Congregation Beth Shalom Downtown Development Authority of the City of Buchanan Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights John R. Halligan Charitable Fund Korean American Bar Association of Chicago Mid-North Association Pathways Projects Institutes Limited Preserve the Dunes Village of Wilmette WTTW and WFMT

• • •

American College of Coverage Counsel Anti-Defamation League Chicago-Kent Patent Hub Chicago Legal Clinic Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Federal Defender Program for the Northern District of Illinois Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee Illinois Legal Aid Online Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice Illinois Supreme Court’s Judicial Administration Task Force Lawyers for the Creative Arts Racial Justice Diversity Committee for the Northern District of Illinois South Asian Bar Association of Chicago Foundation

N EAL GERBER EISEN BERG

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Alliance Francaise de Chicago American Friends of Hebrew University American Technion Society - Chicago Chapter DePaul University College of Law Dean’s Advisory Council Friends of Northside Hebrew University of Jerusalem Indiana University Borns Jewish Studies Program Advisory Board Indiana University College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Board Indiana University Parents Association Advisory Board to the Dean of Students Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund of Illinois Mowen Scholars Ms. JD Princeton Club of Chicago Richard Linn American Inn of Court Step Up The University of Chicago Alumni Club Yale Club of Chicago Zeta Beta Tau Foundation

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS • • • • • • • •

Bottom Line Chicago Committee Equip for Equality Gateway Foundation Kids in Danger Lawyers for the Creative Arts Legal Aid Chicago Public Interest Law Initiative

The firm’s Pro Bono Policy aims to improve the lives of citizens in our community and help make our societal goal of “justice for all” a reality. The policy sets the goal that each Neal Gerber Eisenberg attorney contribute a minimum of 50 hours of pro bono legal service per year.

Please join us in congratulating our 2020 Pro Bono All Stars who met and surpassed this challenge:

HOLBY M. ABERN

OLIVIA LUK BEDI

CORINNE BILLER

BENJAMIN BORIS

JACOB H. CALVERT

ERIC Y. CHOI

ALEXIS M. DOMINGUEZ

MARSHALL E. EISENBERG

DANA ENGEL

STEPHEN FEDO

ABIGAIL FLORES

JASON A. FRYE

AIDAN O. GILBERT

GERALD A. GOLDEN

NICHOLAS S. GRABER

MICHAEL B. HARLIN

CHADWICK A. HOYT

MICHAEL G. KELBER

JOHN J. KOENIGSKNECHT

DONNA LAU

MICHAEL W. LUBELEY

ANDREW G. MAY

THOMAS C. MCDONOUGH

ERIC M. MCLIMORE

EARL N. MELAMED

STEVEN F. PFLAUM

JONATHAN S. QUINN

ROBERT RADASEVICH

SONYA ROSENBERG

AUDREY E. SELIN

GINA SHKOUKANI

KARA SMITH

LEE STARK

PHILLIP L. STERN

DAVID S. STONE

WILLIAM J. TARNOW

DANIEL M. TERHUNE

MIKE R. TURNER

PAUL WALKER-BRIGHT

DAVID G. WELDON

2020 CORPORAT E SOCIAL R ES P O N S I B I L I TY R EP O R T

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Pro Bono Policy & Committee Neal Gerber Eisenberg embraces its responsibility, as set forth in the Preamble to the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, “to create an environment that is hospitable to the rendering of a reasonable amount of uncompensated service by lawyers practicing in [the firm].” The firm likewise recognizes and reaffirms the responsibility of its lawyers “to use their training, experience, and skills to provide services in the public interest for which compensation may not be available.”

By proclaiming the firm’s commitment to providing pro bono publico legal services, and providing a framework for supplying firm lawyers with abundant pro bono opportunities and managing those engagements effectively, the firm’s Pro Bono Policy and Procedures are designed to enable the firm and its lawyers to discharge their respective pro bono responsibilities in a manner that maximizes the achievement of the ultimate objective of any pro bono publico program worthy of its name: furthering the public good.

MEET OUR P RO B ON O COMMI T T E E ME MB E RS

STEVEN F. PFLAUM

JERRY H. BIEDERMAN

ALEXIS M. DOMINGUEZ

Chair, Pro Bono Committee and Co-Chair, Litigation

Partner, Corporate & Securities

Associate, Labor & Employment

ANDREA S. FUELLEMAN

RACHEL JENNINGS

ANDREW G. MAY

Associate, Intellectual Property

Professional Development & Pro Bono Manager

Partner, Litigation

As a gold-level member of The Chicago Bar Foundation Law Firm Leadership Circle, the firm has established, and hereby reminds its lawyers of, the goal that each of the firm’s attorneys will devote COLLETTE A. WOGHIREN MARLON LUTFIYYA MIKE R. TURNER at least 50 hours per year to “pro bono legal service,” as defined Director of Partner, Associate,

by Illinois Supreme Court Rule 756(f)(1). Recognizing that varying Talent & Diversity Intellectual Property Litigation responsibilities and practice areas will make this goal more readily attainable by some firm lawyers than others, and seeking to increase the firm’s overall level of pro bono service without relieving any lawyers of their responsibility to strive to achieve the individual annual target, the firm has established an additional goal of providing pro bono legal service that averages at least 50 hours per firm lawyer per year.

The primary objectives of the firm’s Pro Bono Policy are to improve the lives of citizens in our community and help make our societal goal of “justice for all” a reality. Important secondary goals of this policy include (1) enhancing firm attorneys’ satisfaction with their work, (2) providing firm attorneys with valuable practice experience, and (3) attracting to the firm attorneys who share the firm’s commitment to providing pro bono legal service.

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2 N OR T H LASA LLE ST R E E T SUIT E 1 70 0 CHICAG O, I LLI N O I S 6 0 6 0 2 WW W.N G E .CO M