Scott L. Bittman (’05) to Be Honored at the Cornerstone Awards
Scott L. Bittman of Crowell & Moring LLP
Talented Pro Bono Lawyer Helps Community-Based Organizations Protect and Use
Their Valuable Intellectual Property
Accomplishment: Recipient of Lawyers Alliance for New York’s 2019 Cornerstone Award honoring outstanding pro bono legal services to nonprofits, to be presented October 30.
Highlights: Scott L. Bittman is a counsel in the Intellectual Property Group in Crowell & Moring’s New York office. He received his B.S. from Tufts University in 2001 and his J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 2005.
Among his many satisfied pro bono clients is Person Centered Care Services (PCCS), which seeks to create social change by supporting people with disabilities on their search for identity and acceptance, serving approximately 980 individuals per year in New York City. Mr. Bittman provided PCCS with intellectual property advice regarding its training materials, helping PCCS understand its ownership rights in intellectual property assets that the organization has invested in developing. Andrea Brognano, PCCS’s Division Director of Development and Community Relations, says, “Scott has been very supportive in helping us understand legal concepts and language. He explains things very well and he has been very patient with us.”
Another appreciative group, Flex Dance Program, is an arts education nonprofit in Brooklyn that fosters positive growth among youth in difficult circumstances. Mr. Bittman is assisting Flex Dance Program with intellectual property advice regarding the organization’s logos used in connection with its dance programming. With Mr. Bittman’s expertise, Flex Dance Program is taking steps to seek trademark protections for its logos, which will help the organization establish and foster its branding. Ragnhild Bruland, Founder of Flex Dance Program, says, “Scott is very on point,” and “very clear, helpful, and organized” with his advice.
Mr. Bittman assisted Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union with trademark advice for the organization name, and the name of an affiliate, Grow Brooklyn. Brooklyn Coop FCU is a CDFI (community development financial institution) and low-income designated community credit union with a mission to build wealth, opportunity, and resilience in the economically challenged neighborhoods of Northern and Eastern Brooklyn. Samira Rajan, the Executive Director, says, “It has been a valuable and fruitful engagement. Scott and his firm are very experienced at this work.”
In addition, Mr. Bittman has generously assisted other Lawyers Alliance clients, including Choices in Childbirth with drafting a model agreement pertaining to the organization’s curriculum, Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy with reviewing an independent contractor agreement, Big Apple Basketball with trademark applications, and Climate Mobilization Project with advice regarding trademark protections and affiliation agreements.
Says Mr. Bittman, “I have been fortunate to work with numerous organizations through Lawyers Alliance on a wide variety of intellectual property-related matters over the years. The work has been incredibly rewarding. Each organization had interesting and specific legal needs, and all were very appreciative of the assistance that we were able provide. I look forward to continuing to work with Lawyers Alliance in the future.”
About the Cornerstone Awards: The Cornerstone Awards recognize outstanding pro bono legal services to nonprofit groups that are improving the quality of life for low-income New Yorkers. Each year, Lawyers Alliance for New York honors exceptional volunteerism by business and transactional lawyers with both Institutional and Individual Cornerstone Awards.
About Lawyers Alliance for New York: Lawyers Alliance for New York is the leading provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations and social enterprises that are improving the quality of life in New York City neighborhoods. Our 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, Lawyers Alliance for New York helps organizations to develop and provide housing, stimulate economic opportunity, improve urban health and education, promote community arts, and operate and advocate for vital programs that benefit low-income New Yorkers of all ages.
Inquiries: Marketing and Communications Director Emily Crossan at 212-219-1800 ext. 233, ecrossan@lawyersalliance.org