Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. Partners Chris Messerly and Philip Sieff Honored with National Legal Aid & Defender Association's Arthur von Briesen Award

MINNEAPOLIS (October 2010) - Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. is pleased to announce that partners Chris Messerly and Philip Sieff will receive the 2010 Arthur von Briesen Award from the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA).  The honor is in recognition of their work following the 2007 I-35W bridge collapse.  The Arthur von Briesen Award recognizes attorneys not employed by a legal services or defender program who have made substantial volunteer contributions in support of the delivery of legal services.

In an effort to provide legal services to survivors and those who lost loved ones when the Minneapolis I-35W bridge collapsed, Mr. Messerly and Mr. Sieff led a group of 17 law firms in Minnesota representing 103 clients.  More than 130 firm staff members contributed in excess of 20,000 hours of pro bono time over three years.  This represented the most significant pro bono project in the firm's history.  Their efforts secured a $40 million settlement for the clients, which was announced on August 23, 2010.

They will receive their award during the NLADA annual conference to be held November 10-13, 2010, in Atlanta.