Kessler Topaz has a long-standing commitment of serving the communities in which we live and work. We take pride in representing individuals from all walks of life in often difficult and unpopular legal matters.
The Firm maintains a formal Pro Bono Committee chaired by Partners Sharan Nirmul, Matthew Mustokoff, and Josh Materese. The Committee works to identify, approve and pursue initiatives for the Firm to participate in, and encourages every attorney to dedicate up to fifty (50) hours of time to pro bono matters.
Through voluntary pro bono efforts, Kessler Topaz lawyers and professional staff have represented, and continue to represent, low-income, disabled, disadvantaged and other discriminated-against individuals. We team up and maintain partnerships with numerous legal and social services organizations from which we receive and take on pro bono referrals. At present, these organizations include the Innocence Project, the Homeless Advocacy Project of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity. We also participate regularly in legal clinics, including Name Change and Birth Certificate Clinics, and support various initiatives focused on advocacy for children.
Alongside these efforts, education, exposure, and empowerment around social issues are priorities for the Firm. Externally, we support organizations that we believe share our values. To this end, Kessler Topaz is a regular supporter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and through this support our employees have regularly benefited from insightful dialogue at Firm sponsored ACLU discussions. We are also a supporter of and volunteer with The Public Interest Law Center, which uses high-impact legal strategies to advance the civil, social, and economic rights of communities in the Philadelphia region facing discrimination, inequality, and poverty. The Firm likewise is proud to regularly provide major support to charitable initiatives such as the Eagles Autism Foundation, the Pennsylvania Special Olympics, and Back on My Feet.