2019 Harrison Awards for Pro Bono and Community Service

Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP proudly recognizes the recipients of the Firm’s 2019 Earl G. Harrison Awards for Pro Bono and Community Service.

Ralph G. Wellington

Wellington, former Chairman of the Firm and a partner in the Litigation Department, was awarded the 2019 Earl G. Harrison Pro Bono award.  The award is presented annually to an attorney who has a distinguished record of pro bono service of enduring value to the public good.

Wellington’s pro bono work has included representing individuals seeking asylum in the United States for HIAS Pennsylvania and those wrongly accused of crimes for the Pennsylvania Innocence Project. He has also assisted homeless families in shelters and helped to meet the organizational needs of nonprofits such as the Lutheran Settlement House.

He is active in the Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, a nonprofit organization that provides pro bono services to individuals and arts and culture organizations. In one example of his pro bono work, Wellington litigated for two years to secure the return of artwork belonging to Vladimir Kandelaki, a Russian artist who was enticed to come to the United States by individuals posing as art promoters who then kept his artwork and did not promote him as promised.

Click here to read the full award profile for Ralph Wellington.

Theodore L. Hecht

Hecht, Managing Partner of Schnader’s New York office, is being honored by the Firm with the 2019 Earl G. Harrison Community Service Award. This award recognizes a Firm attorney or staff member who demonstrates an unfailing commitment to helping others and who has set an example for others to follow with regard to volunteering and giving back to the community.

For more than 20 years, Hecht has volunteered for the Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department. He was an active volunteer firefighter for much of this time, until he retired a few years ago. As an active firefighter, Hecht performed as a first responder on emergency and public safety calls.  Hecht also continues his long-standing role as the annually elected legal counsel for the Department on a pro bono basis. He was awarded the title of “Honorary Chief,” a commendation received by only a few people in the long history of the Department.

In addition, Hecht serves as a member of the Board of Ethics for the Town of Mamaroneck, NY. The five-member Board reviews for conflicts the financial and other disclosures by Town elected officials, employees, board members and other persons engaged in business with the Town, and renders opinions on related ethical issues. Beyond this community service work, Hecht’s pro bono efforts include recent representation of an immigrant crime victim through the U-Visa process.

Click here to read the full award profile for Theodore L. Hecht.

Ralph G. Wellington

Theodore L. Hecht