William C. Silverman
Pro Bono Partner
William C. Silverman is a partner responsible for leading Proskauer’s global pro bono efforts, which provide assistance to individual clients and nonprofit organizations in litigation as well as transactional matters. He focuses on identifying and securing pro bono opportunities and partnerships for Proskauer lawyers and ensuring widespread participation in these projects.
Bill has robust private and public sector experience and a strong criminal and civil background. He has worked extensively on government investigations and white collar criminal matters, as well as complex civil litigation in federal and state courts. He also served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he led criminal investigations, conducted trials and handled Second Circuit appeals.
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A critical part of criminal justice reform is making it easier for those with criminal records to reenter society. This means greater job training, more employment opportunities, affordable housing, and stronger laws prohibiting discrimination and facilitating the expungement of old convictions. Successful reentry into a free society, however, requires more than just the basic needs of … Continue Reading
In commemoration of Juneteenth 2021, Proskauer was honored to host Nikole Hannah-Jones, founder of The 1619 Project, as part of its A Path Forward lecture series and Collaborate for Change program. The discussion was moderated by Keisha-Ann Gray, a partner in the New York office, with support from Proskauer’s Black Lawyer Affinity Group. Hannah-Jones shared … Continue Reading
Earlier this year, New York passed legislation legalizing the adult use of cannabis. New Yorkers can now legally possess three ounces for any use, and can smoke marijuana in any publically-designed area where tobacco smoking is allowed, although home cultivation is still not permitted. Importantly, certain convictions – possessing up to 16 ounces or selling … Continue Reading
Despite the critical importance of a strong and independent judiciary, it’s too often that court reform is ignored by public officials and civic leaders. Earlier this week – at the Conference on Judicial Selection Reform hosted by the Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone – I had the opportunity to use my perspective as Chair of … Continue Reading
Due to COVID-19 court restrictions, there have been no adoption proceedings over the past 14 months in New York City, culminating in a backlog of children in need. Although these proceedings are not considered to be “emergencies,” the failure to facilitate permanency on such a wide scale, in fact, poses a threat to the health … Continue Reading
To grow up American in all ways but one – having proper documentation – is what it means to be a dreamer. Being undocumented renders one nearly incapable of functioning as a regular member of society. It means calling in sick during the day of a school field trip that asks you to bring a … Continue Reading
Proskauer gathered for a firmwide virtual celebration, our 13th Annual Golden Gavel Awards ceremony on February 3, to honor those lawyers and staff members who went far above and beyond to contribute to the Firm’s pro bono, corporate social responsibility, and diversity & inclusion initiatives this year. This past year has been one of immense … Continue Reading
Delays in New York City Family Court proceedings too often result from an inadequate number of judges combined with a court structure that makes it difficult to allocate judges where they are most needed. Although these structural faults require legislative and constitutional changes, there are certain steps, according to a recent New York City Bar … Continue Reading
COVID-19 has been catastrophic for the wellbeing of low-income Americans, particularly in communities of color. The costs to health and human life have been devastating and the substantial collateral damage on the financial and social fabric of the country is expected to be felt into 2021 and beyond. One of this country’s leading hospitals, Mount … Continue Reading
An anxious mother, detained in a separate facility from her son, is informed that authorities had lost track of him. A devastated father is deported without his child. A crying child is ripped from his father’s arms and put into a cage-like metal cell. These Proskauer clients – all escaping violence in Central America – … Continue Reading
Election Protection is a nationwide nonpartisan coalition, spearheaded by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, working to ensure that every voter is able to exercise their right to vote. In conversation with Damon Hewitt, Executive Vice President, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Proskauer pro bono partner Bill Silverman says, “Supporting impactful … Continue Reading
The idea that individuals with a felony conviction should be barred from voting for at least some period of time is widely accepted across the United States. But when you consider that current laws arose out of explicit racial animus following the Civil War and the end of slavery; when you look at the disproportionate effect the … Continue Reading
Proskauer’s participation in Election Protection, through hosting a call center with Firm, client and alumni volunteers across the United States, provides an invaluable service to individual voters ensuring they have an equal opportunity to cast their ballot. This volunteer experience also provides great insight into the current condition of democracy in America. It lays bare … Continue Reading
Earlier this month, justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court took their places one at a time as the proceedings began, just like they have done over the past 200 years, but this court appearance was a little different. For the first time in its history, the Court heard arguments over Zoom. And while many seasoned … Continue Reading
Through Proskauer’s partnership with the City Bar Justice Center and Lawyers for Good Government, we helped launch the nationwide COVID-19 Small Business Remote Legal Clinic to consult with small businesses across a range of pressing issues: contracts & force majeure, leases, insurance, and, of course, the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. One of the … Continue Reading
To consider the great need, among people of limited means, for civil legal services during the COVID-19 crisis, a good starting point is where we were before the crisis started. In short, civil legal resources for the poor in the United States are woefully inadequate. According to the Legal Services Corporation, which documents the justice gap in … Continue Reading
The New York Statewide Central Register (SCR) of Abuse and Maltreatment maintains records of calls, allegations, and results of investigations regarding suspected child abuse and maltreatment. Although these records are not public, many employers and agencies are legally obligated to check the database before hiring applicants and accepting volunteers. Having an “indicated” report on file … Continue Reading
Proskauer honored its lawyers and staff who have made significant contributions to the Firm’s pro bono and corporate social responsibility programs this year at its 12th Annual Golden Gavel Awards ceremony on January 22. The following is a list of recipients alphabetically by project. Protecting Immigrant Youth Watch now Team New Orleans: Catholic Charities-Archdiocese of … Continue Reading
Thanks to advances in technology, the fight for equal access to justice has the potential of making enormous strides. A great example is the project Proskauer helped spearhead with the nonprofit Legal Information for Families Today (LIFT), which is now connecting pro se litigants in family court throughout New York State with pro bono services … Continue Reading
When I volunteered in Mexico last spring with two Proskauer colleagues alongside the Institute for Women in Migration (IMUMI), I witnessed a growing humanitarian crisis. The U.S. “Remain in Mexico” Policy – officially called the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) – requires asylum seekers at the southern border to wait in Mexico for the duration of … Continue Reading
Last month, the U.S. state with the highest rate of incarceration (in the country with the largest prison population) took steps to reduce its incarceration of non-violent offenders. Oklahoma’s Governor Kevin Stitt (Republican) commuted the sentences of over 500 inmates. All of these individuals were non-violent offenders with an average age of less than 40. … Continue Reading
Until recently, conventional wisdom among prosecutors dictated that long prison terms were vital to public safety. They took seriously the direction “to charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offenses,” and measured success in terms of trial wins and convictions. Conventional wisdom, however, is changing from this purely punitive model as prosecutors are now … Continue Reading
On November 13 and 21, 2019, the New York State Assembly and Senate will hold joint hearings on the court simplification reforms proposed by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore. The proposed amendment to the State Constitution would streamline the court system by: Consolidating New York’s 11 trial courts into three tiers: Supreme Court, Municipal Court, and … Continue Reading
The human trafficking industry preys on vulnerable young women throughout the world who seek to escape poverty, violence, and oppression. These women are often lured by sex traffickers through false promises of a better life, only to find themselves trapped in a cycle of abuse. The trafficking industry earns profits of approximately $150 billion a … Continue Reading
Restoring Voting Rights for Individuals with Criminal Records and the Need to Inform Them of Their Rights
The 1619 Project and a Path Forward to Racial Justice
By William C. Silverman, Alexander Volpicello and Edina Hartstein on Posted in Criminal Justice Reform, Pro Bono
Cannabis Legalization and Racial Justice
By William C. Silverman on Posted in Criminal Justice Reform, Pro Bono
Judicial Selection Reform Virtual Conference Addresses Court Reform in New York State
By William C. Silverman on Posted in Court Reform, Pro Bono
Caring about Caregivers: Facilitating Adoptions with Mobilization for Justice
By William C. Silverman, Alexander Volpicello and Na Hye Kim on Posted in Family Law, Pro Bono
Proskauer Hosts Virtual DACA Legal Clinic
By William C. Silverman and Na Hye Kim on Posted in Immigration
Proskauer Honors Public Service at the 13th Annual Golden Gavel Awards
By William C. Silverman, Wendy Dessy and Peter Wilson Jr. on Posted in Corporate Social Responsibility, Pro Bono
New York City Bar Report Recommends Changes in the Appointment and Assignment Process for Family Court Judges
By William C. Silverman and Xiaoyang Ma on Posted in Court Reform, Family Law
Bloomberg and Proskauer Sponsor Equal Justice Works Fellow at Mount Sinai Medical Legal Partnership
By William C. Silverman and Alexander Volpicello on Posted in Healthcare, Pro Bono
Taking Action for Families Separated at the Border
By William C. Silverman on Posted in Human Rights, Immigration, Pro Bono
Proskauer & Election Protection – Ensuring Voices Are Heard And Votes Are Counted
By William C. Silverman on Posted in Corporate Social Responsibility, Voting Rights
Confronting Racial Injustice: Felony Convictions and the Right to Vote
By William C. Silverman on Posted in Criminal Justice Reform, Pro Bono, Voting Rights
Election Protection and the Need for Nationwide Voting Standards
By William C. Silverman on Posted in Pro Bono, Voting Rights
Pro Bono Spotlight: Shanice Smith-Banks
By William C. Silverman on Posted in Pro Bono
Proskauer Helps Small Businesses Navigate Labor & Employment Law Issues through COVID-19 Crisis
By William C. Silverman and Alexander Volpicello on Posted in Pro Bono
Expanding Public Service in the COVID-19 Crisis
By William C. Silverman on Posted in Pro Bono
Leveling the Legal Playing Field for Poor Families in Family Court
By William C. Silverman, Na Hye Kim and Alexander Volpicello on Posted in Family Law, Pro Bono
Proskauer Honors Public Service at the Annual Golden Gavel Awards
By William C. Silverman and Wendy Dessy on Posted in Corporate Social Responsibility, Pro Bono
Justice in the Internet Age: Legal Access for Rural Americans
By William C. Silverman and Alexander Volpicello on Posted in Pro Bono
Pro Bono for Immigrant Families: Shutting off Asylum at the Southern Border
By William C. Silverman on Posted in Immigration, Pro Bono
Criminal Justice Reform in America: Shifting Attitudes on Incarceration
By William C. Silverman and Alexander Volpicello on Posted in Criminal Justice Reform, Pro Bono
Criminal Justice Reform in America: Rethinking the Role of the Prosecutor
By William C. Silverman, Alexander Volpicello and Lillian Anderson on Posted in Criminal Justice Reform
NY State Legislature to Hold Hearings on Court Simplification
By William C. Silverman, Alexander Volpicello and Lillian Anderson on Posted in Court Reform
Combating Human Trafficking: How the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Leads the Way
By William C. Silverman and Aneesah Ayub on Posted in Anti-Trafficking, Human Rights, Pro Bono
