The firm's partners and associates actively assist the Courts and members of the general public in many pro bono activities. Members of the firm serve as Judges pro tem in the Contra Costa Superior Court sitting in small claims appeals, the discovery department and serving as mediators and arbitrators in several of Contra Costa County’s Alternative Dispute Resolution programs. The firm provides pro bono representation to many charitable and non-profit organizations, including the Commission for the Preservation of Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries in the West (an adjunct of the Magnes Museum) and the American Association of Retired Persons. The firm and its members are also active in numerous charitable activities. The Firm established and remains a principal supporter of the Warren Eukel Teacher Trust. This organization annually selects several outstanding teachers in Contra Costa County and gives each of them a $10,000 award at a dinner hosted by the acclaimed food and wine critic, Narsai David. Firm partner Alan Plutzik currently serves as the President of the Trust. Dan Birkhaeuser has been a board member since 1997 and Paul Mahler serves as the Trust’s legal counsel and secretary. For many years, the firm has been an active supporter of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. For each of the last six years (and counting), the firm has been acknowledged by the Food Bank as its largest contributor for a law firm of our size. Members of the firm have twice been recognized with awards for outstanding charitable support, once by Contra Costa Legal Services and once by the Contra Costa Pro Bono Committee. Cy Pres awards from the Firm’s class action cases have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to needy organizations. The firm is also a contributor to numerous consumer organizations, such as the National Consumer Law Center, Bay Area Legal Aid Foundation, The Bar Fund, The Rip-Off Report, and the Kennedy-King Memorial College Scholarship Fund.