WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (January 18, 2007) — Robert H. Friedman, a litigation attorney with Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A. in West Palm Beach, recently received the prestigious 2006 Cornerstone Award by Lawyers Alliance for New York. The annual award recognizes his significant pro bono efforts for The Bridge, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides housing and mental health services to adults with serious mental illnesses. Friedman donated hundreds of hours of his time and expertise in the area of insurance coverage law to secure nearly $1 million in insurance proceeds for The Bridge so the organization could rebuild an apartment complex in the Bronx that was nearly destroyed by fire and vandalism.
The Cornerstone Award honors attorneys who provide outstanding contributions in pro bono legal service, helping to improve the quality of life for thousands of low-income and disadvantaged New York residents. The 2006 awards ceremony was held in mid-December in New York City. In addition to Friedman, Lawyers Alliance presented Cornerstone Awards to 10 lawyers and two law firms, DLA Piper and Goodwin Proctor.
Friedman concentrates his practice in insurance law and complex commercial litigation, and is one of the few attorneys in Florida who represents corporate policyholders in disputes with their insurance companies. Prior to joining Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart in August 2006, he practiced in the New York office of Dickstein Shapiro LLP, recognized as a national leader in the area of policyholder-side insurance coverage work. Prior to joining Dickstein Shapiro, Friedman served as a law clerk to the Honorable Naomi Reice Buchwald of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1998.
The West Palm Beach office of Gunster Yoakley is Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest full-service law firm. The firm, established in 1925, offers a broad range of legal services to its impressive client base of businesses, institutions, local governments and prominent individuals. Gunster Yoakley has offices in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Vero Beach and West Palm Beach. Gunster Yoakley is home to 130 attorneys and more than 200 dedicated support staff providing counsel to clients through numerous practice groups including corporate, litigation, real estate and trusts and estates. For more information, visit www.gunster.com, or call (800) 749-1980.
