2009 Sheppard Mullin Pro Bono Attorney of the Year
Gabriel Matus of Sheppard Mullin's NYC office has won the 2009 Sheppard Mullin Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award. Gabriel donated 191.4 hours of indigent pro bono legal services in 2008. He represented Aid for AIDS International in a variety of ways, including a headquarters move, establishing subsidiaries in three different countries, advising on threatened litigation, and providing advice on corporate governance. He essentially acts as outside general counsel for the organization. Aid for AIDS International (AFAI) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization committed to improving the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) in developing countries and who are immigrants to the United States of America. AFAI works to empower PLWHAs, their caregivers, and the community at large by providing access to medications, health education, HIV prevention strategies and advocacy and by promoting leadership and capacity building for individuals and organizations. For his work, Gabriel and Sheppard Mullin were awarded AFAI's "My Hero Award," presented at AFAI's annual gala in the fall of 2008. The My Hero Award honors individuals and organizations that have demonstrated outstanding efforts in the fight against HIV and AIDS around the world. Gabriel is an annual contributor of significant pro bono hours at Sheppard Mullin and we are pleased to honor him with this award. An award ceremony will take place in NYC in April, 2009, and Aid for AIDS will receive a donation of $5,000 in honor of Gabriel's contributions.