Holland & Knight Partner Rita Dattola Honored by Lawyers Alliance for New York
NEW YORK (November 18, 2016) – Holland & Knight Partner Rita Dattola has been recognized by the Lawyers Alliance for New York with a 2016 Cornerstone Award for her outstanding pro bono legal work on behalf of nonprofit groups that are improving the quality of life for low-income New Yorkers. Ms. Dattola was one of 12 honorees selected from the 1,600 business and transactional lawyers who volunteered through Lawyers Alliance during the past year. She received the award at a ceremony yesterday evening.
As a Lawyers Alliance volunteer, Ms. Dattola provides real estate legal advice to nonprofits. Among her recent pro bono clients is CAMBA, which she represented in lease negotiations for a building to be constructed in Brooklyn. The group provides programs and services in economic development, education and youth development, family support, health, housing and legal services to 45,000 New Yorkers annually. During the past year, she also represented SCAN-New York Volunteer Parent-Aides Association in negotiating space agreements with the New York Housing Authority and Goddard Riverside Community Center in negotiating a difficult sublease of space due to zoning restrictions, as well as handled the sale of 10 condominium apartments for Habitat for Humanity NYC.
"I enjoy being the intermediary to connect Holland & Knight's real estate attorneys to the transactional needs of Lawyer Alliance's clients and thank Lawyers Alliance for allowing our firm to perform such meaningful work," said Ms. Dattola. "Personally, I have been honored to represent CAMBA and the other dedicated clients for an extended period of time and have gained a deep appreciation of the difficult work that they perform."
Ms. Dattola was a member of The Council of New York Law Associates, Lawyers Alliance's original name, and is part of the 15 Year Circle of current volunteers whose pro bono work spans at least 15 years.
About Lawyers Alliance for New York: Lawyers Alliance for New York is the leading provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations that are improving the quality of life in New York City neighborhoods. Its network of pro bono lawyers from law firms and corporations and staff of experienced attorneys collaborate to deliver expert corporate, tax, real estate, employment, intellectual property and other legal services to community organizations. By connecting lawyers, nonprofits and communities, it helps nonprofits to develop affordable housing, stimulate economic development, promote community arts, strengthen urban health, and operate and advocate for vital programs for children and young people, the elderly and other low-income New Yorkers. During the past year, 13 staff attorneys and more than 1,600 volunteer attorneys served more than 660 nonprofit clients on more than 1,050 different legal matters.