Rich Gruenberger, New York, Pro Bono Counsel

Richard Gruenberger is the Pro Bono Counsel in the firm’s New York office, assisting with regional pro bono programs in Boston and Philadelphia and overseeing operations for the New York office’s pro bono efforts, including the firm's New York Pro Bono Signature Project, Access to Education.

Mr. Gruenberger has dedicated his professional career to the pro bono community. Before joining DLA Piper, he worked at the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), a nonprofit organization that provides free, civil legal services to underprivileged individuals and families residing in the five boroughs of New York City who would otherwise be unable to access legal assistance. He joined NYLAG in 1993, serving first in the General Legal Services Unit, and then in the Matrimonial/Family Law Unit, where he represented clients in all matrimonial and family law matters, including divorce, custody, orders of protection and equitable distribution.

Named NYLAG’s Pro Bono Supervising Attorney in 1997, Gruenberger worked with many of New York’s leading law firms to promote pro bono representation of low-income clients. He became the Director of the Pro Bono and Volunteer Unit in 2000, where he maintained his family law case load and supervised teams of pro bono attorneys and volunteers who represented NYLAG clients.

As Pro Bono Counsel, Rich works to ensure widespread participation in the pro bono programs by employees in the firm's Boston, New York, and Philadelphia offices.  He works with each office’s pro bono leadership to establish, implement, and evaluate pro bono opportunities and programs and liaise with local legal service providers.  He also helps attorneys receive the training, mentoring, and staff support they need to give pro bono clients high-quality legal services.