Commitment to the Community ...
Honigman has a long-standing commitment to public service, leading the way in philanthropy and focusing on the enhancement of the communities in which we work and live. Throughout the six decades of our existence, our dedication to public interest work has stood side by side with our commitment to provide the highest quality legal services to our clients. chamber
Honigman supports more than 100 different charitable events and programs annually – including our commitment to provide the highest quality pro bono services to the indigent; the venerable Detroit Institute of Arts; the establishment of the Jack Miller Memorial Scholarship Fund at the University of Michigan Law School; our ongoing support for Detroit Renaissance; and the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.
Honigman also fosters many group activities that bring together our attorneys and staff in support of worthwhile causes. Some notable recent events include manning the phones for Detroit Public Television’s Challenge Grant Nights to help raise money in support of public television programming. Recently, more than 70 Honigman attorneys and staff volunteered their time and, in the process, helped raise a record amount of money for DPTV and PBS. In the winter of 2008, Honigman attorneys and staff helped wrap Christmas presents for patients at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit so that hundreds of children would not go without a gift from Santa Claus during their stay at the hospital. As well, we recently participated in a firm-wide “Go Red for Women” day as part of the American Heart Association’s monthly campaign to increase awareness of heart issues affecting women. All Honigman attorneys and staff were encouraged to wear red that day – and those making a $5 contribution to the American Heart Association could also wear jeans. Overall, the firm raised thousands of dollars for the American Heart Association.
Additionally, Honigman supports many cultural institutions throughout southeast Michigan including: the Detroit Institute of Arts; Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Chamber Music Society of Detroit; Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings; Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival; University Musical Society; Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra; and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.
Attorneys and staff members in all Honigman offices actively engage in a wide variety of good works programs, giving back to the broader community on many levels. Some Honigman lawyers volunteer to help in activities in which they use their legal skills, while others devote time to the arts, children’s education and community endeavors. These activities range from volunteering at local charities, to participating in numerous local fundraising activities in order to better the communities where they work and live.
Pro Bono Service ...
The commitment to pro bono legal service is ingrained in our culture. Honigman attorneys have a responsibility to provide pro bono services to aid the indigent. It is a priority for the attorneys at every level. As a recognized leader in Michigan’s business community, Honigman sees pro bono work as a vital component to success. Every attorney complies with, and in many cases exceeds, the State Bar of Michigan’s standards, leading Honigman to be named to the State Bar of Michigan’s Pro Bono Honor Roll.
In addition to actual pro bono legal work, our attorneys have been active in a wide variety of charitable endeavors, working with, sitting on the boards of, and even running many types of civic, community, cultural, governmental, educational and medical organizations; a number of which seek to improve the lives of the less fortunate.
Giving Back with Our Time ...
Current Vice Chairman and immediate past Chairman Alan S. Schwartz was recently named as the chair of the Karmanos Cancer Institute Board of Directors. Current Chairman David Foltyn recently ended his four year tenure as chairman of the non-profit Jewish Vocational Services organization of metropolitan Detroit. Mitchell Meisner, a partner in our Real Estate Practice, has been a member of the board of directors for Community Legal Resources, which serves low-income communities with much needed legal services, for more than six years. I. W. Winsten, a partner in our Litigation Practice, received the 2007 Pro Bono Service Award from the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association and was recognized for his commitment to assisting the community through establishing the Detroit Legal Services Clinic. Our firm, led by partner Carl Herstein, has proudly served as the general counsel for Habitat for Humanity-Detroit, and also serves as chairman of the board of the University Musical Society at the University of Michigan. One of our senior partners, David Page, gives his time and energy to more than 20 organizations while still maintaining a very active corporate practice. These examples are just a sampling of the leadership roles that our attorneys and staff members undertake in the community.
At Honigman, we commit ourselves to the ideals of public service and understand the value of the adage "a rising tide raises all ships."