The firm’s pro bono work for Holocaust survivors, which we began in October 2008 has continued to develop. By pursuing applications on behalf of our elderly clients, many of whom live below the poverty line, we have been able to obtain compensation from the German government for work they performed in German-controlled ghettos during World War II. More than 50 Davis Polk lawyers have participated in the program, which has assisted over 100 survivors thus far.

The program commenced with our screening, interviewing and pursuing applications for more than 100 survivors through the German Ghetto Work Payment program ("GGWP"), which provides a one-time payment of €2,000 to survivors who worked in German-controlled ghettos. Since September 2010, Davis Polk has trained lawyers, both internally and at other firms, to apply on behalf of survivors for a different benefit under a program known as “ZRBG.” We held a clinic at our offices in September 2010, during which many survivors met with Davis Polk lawyers to initiate their ZRBG applications. Since that time, our lawyers have entered into engagements with more than 36 survivors in order to apply for the ZRBG pension.