Kelley Drye’s Pro Bono Work Honored at 2005 Innocence Network National Conference

Washington, DC — Between 1982 and 1990, 11 individuals in Virginia were wrongfully convicted of serious felonies—rape and murder—and spent a collective 118 years in prison before their innocence was officially recognized. Attorneys from nine prominent law firms, including Alysa Zeltzer of Kelley Drye, dedicated thousands of hours of pro bono work and legal assistance to secure the release of these innocent citizens and/or identify errors in the investigative or judicial process that led to the wrongful convictions.

The case studies compiled in a report called Report and Recommendations Regarding Wrongful Convictions in the Commonwealth of Virginia by the Innocence Commission for Virginia (ICVA). The contributing attorneys will be honored at the 2005 Innocence Network National Conference in Washington, DC on March 31, hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, a member of ICVA.

Zeltzer investigated the wrongful murder conviction of Beverly Monroe by researching the case history and interviewing involved participants. Based on their investigatory findings, they offered recommendations to improve the Virginia justice system. Her work contributed to the overall report.

“Alysa’s dedication to their client was outstanding. She made personal sacrifices and devoted many hours to investigation and research,” remarked Paul Rosenthal.

Her efforts are part of Kelley Drye’s larger commitment to pro bono work. Kelley Drye is a member of the DC Bar Partnership Program and a signatory of the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge.

Alysa Zeltzer is an Associate of Kelley Drye. She specializes in advertising, litigation and regulatory counseling with a focus on claims involving unfair and deceptive acts and practices. She represents clients before the Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general, the National Advertising Division (NAD), the National Advertising Review Board, and television networks.

About Kelley Drye

Kelley Drye’s Washington, DC office solves competitive problems for Fortune 500 companies, privately held corporations, government entities, and trade associations in the US and abroad. The firm has over 100 attorneys and professionals practicing in the following areas: Advertising and Marketing, Antitrust and Competition, Business Strategies and Transactions, Technology, Environmental, Government Relations and Public Policy, Intellectual Property, International Trade, Litigation, and Trade Associations.