Dell Inc. Press Release
April 3, 2012
AUSTIN, TX — Dell’s legal team presented its 2012 Pro Bono Excellence Award to Baker Botts L.L.P. for the law firm’s extensive work with Dell Legal on behalf of the Austin Children’s Shelter and Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas.
Dell Legal’s Executive Director for Mergers and Acquisitions, Mark Mouritsen, serves on the board of Austin Children’s Shelter. When the board needed legal work to assist with a strategic alliance, Mouritsen found willing assistance from Baker Botts corporate attorneys Michael Bengston and Mollie Duckworth. Mouritsen says Baker Botts’ assistance has been “invaluable” and will help the Shelter achieve its mission of “protecting and healing children, young adults, and families in need.”
Baker Botts attorneys also teamed with Dell attorneys to staff five cases from Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas. For each case, a Dell in-house attorney is collaborating with a Baker Botts attorney to represent the pro bono client. The matters include family law cases involving domestic violence and child support issues, as well as general law cases where low-income clients need legal assistance to be able to maintain their livelihood and stay out of poverty.
During a presentation ceremony on Dell’s Round Rock campus on Tuesday (April 3, 2012), Dell’s General Counsel Larry Tu and Executive Director of IP Litigation Marc Vockell presented Baker Botts representatives with the special recognition.
“People ask me what I look for in an outside counsel,” Tu said during the ceremony. “I always respond that it is important for an outside counsel to listen to the client and align themselves with our commitment to the community in which we work. Baker Botts has always aligned itself with our interests in serving the community.”
Accepting the recognition from Dell was Baker Botts partner Roger Fulghum, who is the Houston chair of the firm’s IP department. In brief remarks during the presentation ceremony, Fulghum noted that a number of the firm’s Austin office legal team were engaged in pro bono work for the Children’s Shelter and VLS, recording a number of hours in support of those programs and the communities who benefit from their programs.
“Throughout our firm’s history, giving back to the communities in which we live and work has been part of our culture,” Fulghum said. “We are honored to receive this recognition from Dell, and look forward to working alongside their legal team in support of the organizations and agencies that help improve the quality of life for many Austin and Texas residents.”
Baker Botts lawyers engaged in pro bono activities highlighted during the Dell award ceremony are Gavin Villareal, Kevin Meek, Amber MacIver and Mollie Duckworth.
This is the second year Dell has presented its Pro Bono Excellence Award. The inaugural award was given to both Vinson & Elkins LLP (for collaboration with Dell Legal at evening legal clinics) and Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, P.C. (for collaboration with Dell Legal on transactional work for nonprofits).
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About Dell
Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services that give them the power to do more. Dell OEM Solutions helps its customers find more balance between execution and innovation with dedicated OEM resources, industry-standard hardware and global services and support capabilities. Dell helps its OEM customers improve their time to profit and run their operations more efficiently for increased competitive edge. Learn more at www.dell.com/oem.
About Baker Botts
Baker Botts is an international law firm with over 725 lawyers and a network of 13 offices around the globe. Based on our experience and knowledge of our clients’ industries, we are recognized as a leading firm in the energy, technology and life sciences sectors. Throughout our 172-year history, we have provided creative and effective legal solutions for our clients while demonstrating an unrelenting commitment to excellence. For more information, please visit www.bakerbotts.com.